A tropical climber with beautiful, deep blue flowers. They are about 4 cm large and have a yellow heart. They are used in the Asian kitchen as a natural pigment for colouring food. Especially rice dishes, like the well known nasi kerabu, are coloured blue with these flowers. In Thailand the flowers are used to brew blue tea.
Originally the species occurs only in south east Asia, but now can be found throughout the tropics globally. The plant can be kept as an annual or perennial. With a maximum height of metres it will do well in a pot. The Latin name Clitoria was chosen by Linnaeus because of the flower's shapes. To Linnaeus, they looked like the female sex organ and is why he chose this surprising name.
Sowing description: Scarify the seeds in 1 place with sandpaper and then soak for 24 hours in luke warm water. Sow in sowing mix and germinate at 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Family: Leguminosae
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Common name: Butterfly Pea
Native to: Tropical Asia
Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: 10 degrees Celsius
