Centrosema virginianum
Butterfly Pea
a perennial member of the Centrosema genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Centrosema
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
Flowers and peas can be eaten. There are no edible uses listed for Centrosema virginianum.
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant can be allowed to grow without supports and it will then sprawl over the ground as an effective ground cover[1]. Plants have been grown as a green manure[1]. The plants extensive root system makes it useful for stabilizing soils and controlling erosion[1].
Environment
- Range
- South-eastern N. America, as far north as New Jersey, southwards into the Tropics.
- Habitat
- Dry sandy soils in woodlands[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any sandy or loamy soil in a sunny position[1]. Tolerant of poor acid soils, dry soils and drought[1]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around other plants[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm