Welcome to the vibrant world of the Butterfly Peavine, a stunning addition to any garden, especially in the warm temperatures of San Antonio, Texas. This versatile plant not only adds a splash of mesmerizing blue to your garden but also offers a host of benefits, from creating a delightful blue tea to supporting local pollinators.
Growing Butterfly Peavine in San Antonio
Butterfly Peavine, also known as Clitoria ternatea or Blue Butterfly Pea, thrives in San Antonio’s warm climate. Here’s how you can nurture this beautiful plant in your garden.
Light Exposure and Soil
Butterfly Peavine prefers a sunny spot in your gardens, although during our hottest days of summer it sure seems like it does best with a little afternoon shade. Growing in large pots allows you to move it around to find a spot it is most comfortable in. For containers choose a quality potting mix with plenty of organic ingredients. In the ground (only in zones 9 and warmer), you’ll need to make sure you have an area with well-draining soil. Sandy or loamy soil enriched with organic matter that has been loosened is ideal.
Watering
While Butterfly Peavine is fairly drought-tolerant once established, but it thrives with moderate, consistent watering, especially during extended periods of extremely hot temps. Again, this vine needs soil that drains well. So amend your garden soil with products to help with drainage, and only plant in containers with drainage holes.
Trellising
As a climbing vine, Butterfly Peavine benefits from the support of a trellis or fence. This not only helps the plant grow upwards, creating a stunning vertical display, but also allows for better air circulation and easier harvesting of the flowers. Butterfly pea can grow up to about 15′ tall by 6′ wide. But Laura Jarvis of The Butterfly Landing, says that it is a “well-behaved”vine. She means that this vine doesn’t loop itself around all your other plants, or choke them out!
Benefits of Blue Butterfly Pea Vine
Making Blue Tea
One of the most enchanting features of Butterfly Peavine is its ability to produce a striking blue tea. To make this tea, simply gather a handful of fresh or dried flowers and steep them in hot water for about 10 minutes. The result is a vibrant blue infusion that can be enjoyed as is or with a squeeze of lemon, which magically changes the color to purple due to the pH change. Fun!
Pollinator Plant Extraordinaire
Butterfly Peavine is a magnet for pollinators, especially butterflies. It serves as a host plant for several species, including the Long-tailed Skipper and the Ceraunus Blue butterfly. By planting Butterfly Peavine, you’re not only beautifying your garden but also supporting the local ecosystem and helping these butterflies thrive
Winter Protection for Blue Butterfly Peavine
We generally treat this vine as an annual, replanting it yearly, as it can suffer in colder temperatures. But, there are some years our winters have been mild enough that we have seen it come back after a winter nap. Planting in pots allow you to transport your plant indoors to protect it from the cold. Mulching around the base of the plant and using frost cloth can also be beneficial when temperatures drop.
In conclusion, Butterfly Peavine is a delightful, low-maintenance plant that brings beauty, utility, and ecological benefits to your garden. With these tips, you can enjoy its vibrant blooms and the magical blue tea while supporting local pollinators.
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
Is the butterfly peavine deer proof?
Hi Betty,
First….there is no plant that is 100% deer proof. Butterfly Pea Vine is listed as “moderately” deer resistant. . Meaning, it is not one of their preferred food choices, but they may nibble off some flowers for a taste, or if it very hot and dry and food is scarce, they could munch it.
When should it be planted?
If you are planting in a pot, you can plant anytime spring through fall, but be mindful that it will need winter protection. If you’d rather grow it in the ground, I’d wait until late spring, once the danger of frost has passed.
Is this vine available now?
Hi Christine,
There are 3 of these left as of today, 8/24/24. If you are interested, I’d recommend calling our Thousand Oaks location and asking them to hold it for you. 210-494-6131.