Alphabetical Plant Listing

Centrosema virginianum (Spurred Butterfly Pea)

Spurred Butterfly Pea, Butterfly Pea, Bradburya virginiana, Centrosema virginianum var. ellipticum


Centrosema virginianum (Spurred Butterfly Pea) is a small perennial vine boasting showy pale blue-violet to lavender pea-like flowers, 1.5 in. across (4 cm), with a white central spot. Blooming in mid to late summer, the attractive blossoms are borne singly or in clusters of 2-4 in the leaf axils. The blooms are inverted (upside down) and last only half a day, but they typically bloom daily during the flowering season. The flowers are pollinated primarily by bees, but Spurred Butterfly Pea is the larval host for Northern cloudywing and Long-tailed skipper butterflies. The leaves are alternately arranged and comprised of 3 leaflets. The thin and delicate stems have no tendrils. Spurred Butterfly Pea can be allowed to sprawl over the ground as an effective ground cover. It can also twine around vertical structures. Its extensive root system makes it useful for stabilizing soils and controlling erosion. Easy to grow, it is found in a wide variety of habits in nature. Adaptable, it is suitable for butterfly gardens as well as naturalistic landscapes and restorations. High in protein and mineral content, it is considered a good quality forage for livestock.

  • Grows up to 5-6 ft. tall (150-180 cm).
  • Loves full sun or light shade in sandy or loamy, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant once established. This plant can grow in very acid soils.
  • No serious disease or pest issues.
  • Propagate by seed.
  • Native to tropical and subtropical Americas and the southeast United States, north up to Illinois and New Jersey, along the east coast and south to Florida, and west to Texas and Oklahoma. It is also native to Puerto Rico as well as the Virgin Islands.

 

Buy Centrosema virginianum (Spurred Butterfly Pea)

Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 11
Plant Type Climbers, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 5' – 6' (150cm – 180cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Missouri, Northeast, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

Buy Plants


By Doikanoy, Nikolay Kurzenko, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 11
Plant Type Climbers, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 5' – 6' (150cm – 180cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Missouri, Northeast, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

Plant Calculator

How many Centrosema virginianum (Spurred Butterfly Pea) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Centrosema virginianum (Spurred Butterfly Pea)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.