How to grow butterfly pea in a raised bed

Butterfly pea is a gorgeous tropical climber whose vivid blue, edible flowers make a natural colour-changing tea and a showstopping garnish. Given warmth and a trellis, it's an easy, ornamental raised-bed vine.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, loves heat
• Spacing: 40–50 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm+ depth
• Time to harvest: 3–4 months to flower
• Support: a trellis to climb

When should I plant butterfly pea?

Butterfly pea is frost-tender — plant in spring and summer in warm areas. It's a perennial in the tropics, often grown as an annual elsewhere. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): September to January
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): October to December
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): Not really suited to this zone
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): September to March
• Arid inland: October to November

How do I grow butterfly pea in a raised bed?

Plant into rich mix at the base of a trellis and let it climb. It's a legume, so it feeds the soil as it grows, and it flowers freely in the warmth.

How do I use it?

The brilliant blue flowers are edible and steep into a striking blue tea that turns purple with a squeeze of lemon — a favourite for drinks and rice dishes.

What pests attack butterfly pea?

Keep an eye out for aphids and caterpillars, though flowers are seldom much bothered. See our safe pest guide.

What are the common problems with butterfly pea?

The main one to watch is powdery mildew, usually in damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow prevents most.

Where should I plant it?

A beautiful, soil-improving climber for a warm trellis; the flowers draw in pollinators. See our companion planting guide.

More growing guides: rosella, sunflowers and anise hyssop.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Adityamadhav83, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.