The Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea) is a tropical vine celebrated for its striking, deep blue blossoms and unique color-changing properties. Native to Southeast Asia, this vibrant plant can be successfully cultivated indoors, offering a rewarding experience for houseplant enthusiasts. Growing the vine inside requires replicating its native warm, bright, and humid environment. Success depends on establishing the correct initial conditions and consistently managing the plant’s vigorous growth habit.
Meeting Core Environmental Needs
The most demanding requirement for indoor success is providing adequate light, as the butterfly pea is a sun-loving species that needs a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day to encourage flowering. Placing the vine in a south- or west-facing window is often necessary to meet this high light demand. If natural light is limited, a full-spectrum LED grow light should be positioned approximately 12 to 16 inches above the foliage, running for 12 to 16 hours daily to mimic a long tropical day.
This plant requires consistently warm temperatures, thriving best when daytime temperatures range between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures should not drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as cold can cause growth to stall or damage the plant. The butterfly pea also prefers high humidity, ideally between 60 to 80 percent. Growers can raise local humidity by using a nearby humidifier or placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
The correct potting medium is necessary to prevent root issues, as the plant is sensitive to overly wet conditions. A well-draining, slightly sandy loam is ideal, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. Using a potting mix amended with compost ensures both good drainage and the necessary organic matter to support the vine’s rapid growth. Containers must have sufficient drainage holes to allow excess water to escape, preventing root rot.
Managing Indoor Growth and Structure
Maintaining a healthy, blooming butterfly pea vine indoors requires proper watering, feeding, and physical management. The plant should be watered deeply until it runs out the drainage holes, then the top inch of soil must dry out completely before watering again. This deep-soak-and-dry cycle helps prevent the soil from becoming soggy.
During the active growing season, which runs from spring through fall, the vine benefits from regular feeding to support growth and flowering. Applying a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content monthly is recommended to stimulate more blooms. When winter arrives, or if light levels are reduced, stop feeding entirely and reduce watering frequency to match the plant’s slower metabolism.
Because Clitoria ternatea is a vigorous climber, providing a support structure is necessary for indoor cultivation. A small trellis, hoop, or stake allows the twining vine to climb vertically, managing its spread in a confined space. Regular pruning is required to manage its vining habit, involving cutting back overgrown stems to maintain a compact shape and encourage bushier growth. Vigilance for common houseplant pests like spider mites and whiteflies is important, and they should be treated immediately with non-chemical methods like insecticidal soap.
Harvesting and Culinary Uses
The reward for consistent care is a steady supply of deep-blue flowers, which should be harvested when they are fully open, typically in the morning. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more blooms, prolonging the flowering season. The flowers can be used fresh, but they are most often dried for long-term storage as a natural food coloring.
The dried petals are commonly steeped in hot water to create a caffeine-free herbal tea with a mild, earthy flavor. The infusion is a striking deep indigo blue, which is due to a high concentration of water-soluble pigments called anthocyanins. This vibrant color can be utilized as a natural dye for rice, noodles, or cocktails.
The infusion’s ability to change color when exposed to acid is a highly sought-after reaction. When a few drops of an acidic substance, such as lemon or lime juice, are added to the blue liquid, the drop in pH causes the anthocyanin molecules to change structure. This transformation results in the liquid changing from blue to a vibrant purple or magenta color. This unique property makes the flower popular in mixology and culinary arts.