Clitoria ternatae
Pois bleu • Pwa papiyon • Blue pea
Blue tea plant
Common names:
English: Blue pea, Clitoria, Venus clitoris, Butterfly pea, Wild lentil, Brown pea, Ternate’s Clitorie, Darwin pea, Savannah pea, Blue Matcha, Ternat vine
Creole: Pwa papiyon, Pwa mawon, Pwa hazié, Pwa raze, Pwa savann, Pwa tonnèl, Pwapwa
English: Bluebell, Blue pea, The Virgin’s shoes, Blue vine, Butterfly pea, Blue fifi, Kordofan pea, Cordofan pea, Asian pigeon-wings
Spanish: Bejuco de conchitas, Conchita azul, Conchita blanca, Frijolito, Manto de vieja, Papito, Deleite Others: Bunga Telang, Aparajita, Koyala, Gokarna
FAMILY
FABACEAE
ETYMOLOGY
Clitoria comes from the Greek 'kleitoris', in relation to the shape of the flower.
Ternatae indicates the origin: Ternate, an island in Indonesia.
ORIGIN
Indonesia
HABITAT
Altitude: 0-400 m
DESCRIPTION
Rhizomatous and perennial climbing plant. Size: 3 m. Compound leaves.
Blue flowers with a white throat tinged with yellow. Size: 5 cm.
Flowering all year round, from June to October in a temperate environment. 6 weeks after sowing
Fruits: Edible pods. Size: 5-7 cm.
Oval and dark seeds.
NEEDS
Supports all climates but prefers moderate or dry ones. Light watering.
Any type of soil, but prefers clay soils and rich in humus. Exhibition: Full sun
Hardiness: -1°C
CULTURE
- Easy, fast growth.
- Bring it in the winter in a bright room, minimum 10°C, or grow it as an annual plant.
- The plant can start from the rhizome in spring if it has survived the winter.
- The rods wind on a support (mesh, wire, lattice, netting..)
- In a temperate climate, grow it in pots (substrate example: 2/3 soil, 1/3 soil)
CARE
- Maintenance size.
- Remove wilted flowers to prolong flowering and pinch stems to increase density.
- Regular intake of compost or organic fertilizer unless the plant is in wintering.
MULTIPLICATION
- Easy sowing, 15°C min
- Propagation substrate.
- Soak the seeds 24h in hot water. Sow at 1-2 mm, tamp lightly and keep moist.
- Place in a sunny spot. Transplant at the stage 4 leaves. - Emergence: 1-3 weeks
USES
DANGERS
Causes diarrhea in case of excessive consumption. Poisonous parts: seeds and roots.
ORNAMENTAL USE
Isolated subject, green wall, wire or mesh.
FOOD USE
Immature pods, flowers and young edible stems.
Salads, soups, infusions, donuts.
Food coloring (Tea, rice, ice cubes, white alcohols, sauces, mousses, syrups, pastries, semolina, miso, jellies, breads, cakes, ...)
OTHER USES
Stem and bark serve as dye for fabrics and hair.
It is considered one of the most effective natural ingredients to promote hair growth and a natural strengthening of their color.
ANECDOTES
The infusion of flowers tints the water blue. Mixed with lemon or infused in white wine, it becomes purple to pale pink depending on the acidity.
SOURCES
- Plants, environments and landscapes of the French Antilles - Claude Sastre and Anne Breuil - Ed Parthenope collection - P435
- Illustrated Flora of the phanerogames of Guadeloupe & Martinique - Jacques Fournet - Ed Gondwana, CIRAD - T1 P676
- The great Larousse of 15,000 garden plants & flowers - Ed Larousse - P276
- Floratoxica - Toxic plants or plants for delicate use from Martinique te from Guadeloupe - Michel Galtier, André Exbrayat, Emmanuel Nossin - Ed Exbrayat - P110
- https://autonomiejardin.com/2021/06/11/plante-insolite-clitoria-ternatea/
- https://jardinage.lemonde.fr/dossier-3979-pois-bleu.html
- https://oko-oko.com/wp-content/uploads/Ebook_Butterfly_Pea_FR.pdf