Blue Queen Butterfly Pea is a stunning edible flowering vine from Thailand, selected for its extra-double indigo blooms that cover the plant in layers of gorgeous petals. Hardy in zones 10-11, this heirloom variety produces its signature flowers in 75-90 days and thrives in full sun with minimal spacing needs of just 6 inches apart. The real magic happens when you steep these flowers into tea; add a drop of lemon and watch the deep blue liquid transform into a brilliant pink. It's part vegetable, part ornamental, and entirely captivating, blending beauty and culinary function in a single vine.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
?in H x ?in W
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High
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The double blue blooms are absolutely arresting, far more voluminous than standard single-flowered butterfly pea varieties. These flowers aren't just beautiful to look at, they're culinary workhorses that dye teas, rice, and desserts with natural indigo color, then perform the visual magic trick of shifting bright pink when acid hits them. The vines stay covered in these dazzling petals throughout the growing season, creating a garden display that's equally at home as an ornamental specimen or a functional edible crop.
Steep the flowers fresh or dried to create a striking blue herbal tea that shifts to pink or purple when lemon juice or other acidic ingredients are added. The flowers color rice, desserts, and baked goods with natural indigo dye, bringing both visual interest and a subtle floral note to dishes. Children find the color-changing tea particularly delightful, making it a gateway plant to edible gardening. The vines also serve as living garden ornament, with their blanket of double blooms adding sculptural beauty to trellises and arbors.
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Flowers are ready to harvest as soon as they open and display their full double-bloom form. Pick blooms in the morning when they're freshest, either for immediate use in tea or drying for later use. The flowers will keep fresh in water for a short time, but they're best used within a day or two of picking. For drying, hang bundles in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight until completely brittle, which typically takes 1-2 weeks.
As a vigorous vining plant, Blue Queen benefits from regular pruning to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth with more flowering sites. Pinch back the growing tips early in the season to promote branching rather than letting the vine grow as a single, unbranched stem. Throughout the growing season, remove any dead or diseased growth to keep the plant healthy and looking its best on the trellis.
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“This cultivar originates from Thailand, where butterfly pea has long been valued for both its ornamental presence and culinary applications. The Blue Queen selection was specifically chosen and preserved for its exceptional double flower blooms, which distinguish it from the standard single-flowered forms of Clitoria ternatea. By selecting and replanting from plants showing the most prolific and fullest flowers, seed savers created a variety that delivers more petals per bloom and denser flowering throughout the season.”