White Queen Butterfly Pea is a rare, double-petaled white flowering vine from Thailand that transforms any garden with its extra-fancy ornamental blooms and an unexpected bonus: the flowers are edible. This heirloom cultivar of Clitoria ternatea grows 3 to 6 feet tall in full sun and produces harvestable flowers in 75 to 90 days, making it as practical as it is beautiful. In zones 10 and 11 it grows as a perennial; gardeners in cooler climates can enjoy it as a stunning annual vine.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
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The double-petaled snow-white flowers are the real draw here, ornamental enough to stop visitors in their tracks yet edible enough to steep into a calming tea. This is a rare cultivar within an already uncommon species, making it a conversation starter for adventurous growers. The vining growth habit means it climbs readily, perfect for trellises, arbors, or vertical space where you want both ornament and function.
The edible flowers are primarily used to brew a soothing herbal tea, steeped in hot water to create a delicate, floral beverage. The double-petaled white blooms are showy enough that they also serve as an ornamental vine for trellises and garden structures, offering visual interest alongside their culinary application.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Soak seeds overnight or scarify lightly to encourage germination. Sow 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix and keep at warm temperatures (around 70°F). Seeds typically sprout in 7 to 21 days. Harden off seedlings for 7 to 10 days before transplanting outdoors.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart. In zones 10 and 11, this plant is perennial and can be planted any time during the growing season. Elsewhere, wait until nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F.
You can direct sow seeds outdoors after frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 6 to 12 inches apart. Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge, which typically takes 7 to 21 days.
Harvest flowers for tea as soon as they open fully and have developed their characteristic double-petal form. Pick them in the morning after dew has dried. The blooms are best used fresh or dried immediately for tea. Simply pinch or snip flowers from the vine, and new blooms will continue to form throughout the growing season. Flowers typically appear consistently from mid-summer through fall.
Minimal pruning is needed for this vining cultivar. As it climbs, gently guide shoots toward your trellis or support structure. Remove any dead or damaged stems as they appear. In zones 10 and 11 where it grows as a perennial, you can cut back the entire vine after flowering to encourage bushier growth the following season, though it will happily regrow from established roots.
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“White Queen comes from a long tradition of butterfly pea cultivation in Thailand, where the plant has been valued for centuries. This particular double-petaled white form is a cultivar selection within Clitoria ternatea, the species itself having roots in Southeast Asian gardens and farms. The fact that it has survived and circulated through heirloom seed networks speaks to gardeners who recognized its dual appeal: beauty that also feeds you.”