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 to plant: 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 planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing it 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 to 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.
Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and caterpillars, though flowers are seldom much bothered. See our safe pest guide.
Common problems: the main one to watch is powdery mildew, usually in damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow prevents most.
Where to 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 planting 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.
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