Meet the weird and wonderful Butterfly Pea Flower

It’s a wonderful time to be a gardener. Perhaps this is one of those times, after the great Columbian exchange and the era that saw the fervor of the Victorian plant collectors, where we’re seeing the introduction of so many new plants previously unheard of to the West. Although the Victorian plant explorers went all over the world, their precious Wardian cases in hand, collecting new specimens to satiate their patron’s hunger for anything exotic, those plants they brought home from distant lands came at a premium. In most cases, only the rich could afford them. However, these days, thanks to the advances in technology and shipping and not to mention better phytosanitary measures, anybody can source quality plant materials from any corner of the world. One such plant, still relatively new to the temperate gardens of the west, is the Butterfly Pea plant - Clitoria ternatea.

Belonging to the pea (Fabaceae) family, the plant is native to equatorial Asia. As a legume, its roots form a symbiotic association with soil bacteria known as rhizobia, which transform atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form - a process called nitrogen fixing. Therefore, this plant makes for a great companion plant and is also used to improve soil quality through the decomposition of the nitrogen-rich plant material.

It’s a remarkable flower with vivid deep blue petals and light-yellow markings in the center. The form itself is quite striking. The conch-shaped petals have earned it the moniker of Shankhupoovu (Shankhu - conch, poovu- flower) in many parts of India. What makes the flower extraordinary is that, apart from its various purported medicinal values, it is a great source of all-natural blue dye which can be used to color food and natural fibers alike. When steeped in warm or hot water/milk, the blue dye is released from the flower and can then be used as a coloring agent. The tea made from the butterfly pea flowers steeped in hot water with the addition of flavoring agents like ginger, lemongrass, or mint, served with honey, makes for a wonderful soothing drink. If you like a little herbal alchemy, try adding some lemon juice to the tea and sit back and enjoy the magic as the color of the drink changes from blue to a pinkish purple hue.

A versatile ingredient, the flowers can be used to color anything from beverages to rice to delectable desserts. When steeped in milk, the dye from the flower turns a lighter shade of blue, lending the end-product the color of a clear summer sky.

While the extract of the flowers has a mild woody/earthy taste, with the addition of vanilla or any other flavor of choice, it is rather unnoticeable. The depth of the color, be it in a beverage or food, depends on the number of flowers used. You can use fresh or dried flowers- to dry the flowers, simply lay them on a piece of parchment paper on your countertop away from direct sun.

Being that it is from the tropical region of Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.), the butterfly pea plant is grown as an annual in most parts of the United States. The flowers, although usually single petaled, are also available in double petaled forms. However, if growing from seed, the form of the flower cannot be guaranteed as the genetics of the seed-grown plant can be unpredictable.

There are also some varieties that have light blue, lavender, or even white flowers, and while they are pretty, they don’t produce the muchdesired deep blue dye. The plants are easy to grow from seed. They can be soaked in warm water for up to 24 hours before sowing to improve germination. You can start the seeds indoors under a grow light or on a windowsill before planting them out in the spring after the last frost date. There’s still time if you’d like to give it a go this year. Although, be forewarned that once you fall for the hypnotic blue of this exotic flower, you might find it hard to be without it.

Happy gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.

More information

You can learn more about the Butterfly Pea Flower at https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Clitoria_ternatea.

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Anila Nair. Anila, a Johns Creek resident, has been a master gardener since 2020. After graduating with a degree in Computer Science Engineering, she worked as a Software Engineer for more than a decade before leaving that life behind to pursue a career in horticulture. A self-confessed plantaholic and plant hoarder, she can be found puttering around in her garden when not assisting the North Fulton Master Gardeners with their Gardening Education classes.