Family: Fabaceae
Common name: Butterfly pea, Darwin pea, Asian pigeonwings, Blue pea, Bluebellvine, Cordofan pea
Butterfly pea plants are very beautiful and useful at the same time; an essential in any garden. They belong to the Pea family of Fabaceae and has all the typical characteristics of climbing, creeping or trailing stems; long fruit pods that contain seeds, and nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots.
Plant characteristics
The stem is woody at the base, but otherwise thin, green and slightly hairy, growing to a length of about 5 meters. They can trail on the ground, or climb on garden structures, fences, trees or other surrounding vegetation.
To say that Butterfly pea flowers are stunning, is an understatement. They are deep blue with yellow and white markings towards the base of the flowers; and radiating lines towards the tip of the petals. There is a variant with white flowers as well, that are equally beautiful.
Flowers are 5 petaled, having one extra-large, prominent rounded petal, 2 smaller blue petals, and 2 tiny white petals guarding the reproductive organs.
Filaments and anthers are not visible unless you part the petals and look inside. Butterfly pea leaves are pinnate with 6-7 leaflets on each branch. There are variants with double flowers, and white flowers as well.
Fruits pods are flat, about 6-8 cm long with 8-10 seeds inside. They are initially green and turns brown on maturity, after which they burst open releasing shiny black seeds all around.
Gardening tips
Butterfly pea plants need good sunlight to grow and flower well. Since they love climbing, it is good to grow them near fences, trellises, or other supporting structures.
They can also clamber over surrounding vegetation very quickly, if you don’t keep a close watch over them.
They flower almost throughout the year in warm, tropical weather adding beauty and majesty to your garden with their deep blue flowers.
Butterfly pea plants need regular watering, especially during summer months. They are resistant to pests, and any rare infestation can be remove with neem oil sprays.
These plants are very self-sufficient and need very little care, making them ideal for novice or forgetful gardeners.
Uses of Butterfly peas
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root absorb atmospheric nitrogen and convert into a form of nitrogen that is usable by plants; a process known as nitrogen cycle.
Butterfly pea plants are grown as ornamental plants, for food and medicine and for livestock fodder. Young seed pods are edible and rich in proteins. The deep blue color of the leaves, makes it a natural coloring agent for rice, sweets and beverages.
Some of the color changing drinks like Butterfly pea flower tea, and color changing gin depend on butterfly pea flowers for their color. The colors of these beverages change depending on what is mixed in it, like lemon juice or tonic water. The flowers are also used for making tea; and are also eaten batter fried.
Butterfly pea plants are extremely important in Ayurvedic medicine, called ‘Shankhu pushpam’ in Malayalam. It is used as an anti-depressant, to enhance memory and motor functions; and also to treat asthma, diabetes, fever, pain and arthritis. The chemicals contained in these flowers have strong insecticidal properties.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds.
Each plant produces abundant seedpods which will split open on maturity to release the seeds. So the parent plants produces many small plants near them, which can be separated and replanted.
The roots of the Butterfly pea plant are quite strong, and so special care should be taken to lift them from the ground. Do not yank the plant, lest the roots break.
Photographed at: Sobha Petunia, Bangalore
