FNPS Plant Database
Centrosema virginianum
spurred butterfly pea
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
spurred butterfly pea
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Centrosema virginianum
Family:
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Plant Specifics
Form:
vine
Size:
vines up to 6 ft long
Life Span:
short-lived perennial
Flower Color:
white, purple, lavender
Fruit Color:
brown
Phenology:
winter dormant (north), evergreen (south); blooms summer-fall (north) or year-round (south)
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Butterfly garden, natural landscape, habitat restoration
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
seeds from mature pods
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
acidic to neutral
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Larval host plant for long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) and northern cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) butterflies.
Pollinated by bees.
Primarily dispersed by ants.
Native Habitats:
Pinelands and open coastal uplands
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
