Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

spurred butterfly pea

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Centrosema virginianum

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

vine

Size:

ft tall by vines up to 6 foot long ft wide

Life Span:

Long-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:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Butterfly garden, natural landscape, habitat restoration

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seeds from mature pods

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

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

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

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:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: