Description & Use
“Butterfly pea”, is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia and Madagascar. The flowers are often used as a food dye or dipped in batter and deep-fried. I like to toss a few in my salad. Some people say the seed pod is not edible and others say it is. I have not tried so until I do and survive will not recommend you eat the pods!
You can grow this amazing beautiful and unique plant as part of your edible garden. Plant it near a fence or in a container with a trellis. The vine starts out slow, but then quickly climbs, and before you know it produces beautiful edible bright blue flowers. I have a bunch in the front yard as part of my edible landscape.
Leave a few flowers on your plant and when pollinated they will produce brown seed pods for you to propagate from. Butterfly pea vine is in the Fabaceae family and is an excellent nitrogen fixing plant.
In Southeast Asian countries communities have been brewing and drinking butterfly pea vine tea for centuries, and its just now becoming more popular in America. The traditional recipe is to brew the flowers along with lemongrass. The bright blue teas flavor is earthy and woody, similar to green tea, and is prized for being highly medicinal and containing compounds beneficial for healthy skin.
Butterfly pea flowers have color changing abilities! Brew the flowers in hot water (or soak in alcohol) for a bright blue coloring effect and then add lemon juice to change the blue to pink! Bartenders are big fans of the flowers and the dye created from them.
“Butterfly pea”, is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia and Madagascar. The flowers are often used as a food dye or dipped in batter and deep-fried. I like to toss a few in my salad. Some people say the seed pod is not edible and others say it is. I have not tried so until I do and survive will not recommend you eat the pods!
You can grow this amazing beautiful and unique plant as part of your edible garden. Plant it near a fence or in a container with a trellis. The vine starts out slow, but then quickly climbs, and before you know it produces beautiful edible bright blue flowers. I have a bunch in the front yard as part of my edible landscape.
Leave a few flowers on your plant and when pollinated they will produce brown seed pods for you to propagate from. Butterfly pea vine is in the Fabaceae family and is an excellent nitrogen fixing plant.
In Southeast Asian countries communities have been brewing and drinking butterfly pea vine tea for centuries, and its just now becoming more popular in America. The traditional recipe is to brew the flowers along with lemongrass. The bright blue teas flavor is earthy and woody, similar to green tea, and is prized for being highly medicinal and containing compounds beneficial for healthy skin.
Butterfly pea flowers have color changing abilities! Brew the flowers in hot water (or soak in alcohol) for a bright blue coloring effect and then add lemon juice to change the blue to pink! Bartenders are big fans of the flowers and the dye created from them.
Quick growing tips
- Butterfly Peas prefer to be grown in full sun but they will tolerate light shade.
- These are very drought tolerant plants, but they should be watered regularly for the best results.
- Never over water Butterfly Peas!
- Pinch regularly to induce bushiness.
- Grows best as a perennial in zones 10-11
- Grow as an annual everywhere else.
- Propagate by seeds in the spring. They start slow but then speed up quite a bit as weather warms.
- Fertilize weakly weekly with balanced organic fertilizer at half strength or monthly during the growing season.
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Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied
The products and statements made about specific plants or products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
Advertising Disclosure:
Pepesplants.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and also Googles affiliate advertising program. The programs provide a means for web sites to earn revenues from advertising and or sales.
Content Disclosure
Use all information on this site at your own risk.
The content here is based on the publishers personal experience in the green industries.
Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied
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Site created and managed by Pepe's Fruit Trees. Copyright 2024 - All Right Reserved