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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Clitoria mariana is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.8 m (2ft 7in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. mariana var. mariana. C. marina L. [Spelling variant]. Martiusia mariana (L.) Small. Nauchea mariana (L.) Descourt. Ternatea mariana (L.) Kuntze. Vexillaria mariana (L.) Raf. Vexillaria mariana (L.) Eaton.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Aphrodisiac

The roots and seeds have been used medicinally, including as an aphrodisiac according to the ancient but unscientific doctrine of signatures.' but we have not been able to confirm this - Missouriplants.com

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Nitrogen fixer.

Special Uses

Food Forest Nitrogen Fixer

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A temperate perennial forb. Stems are erect to reclining or trailing, to 1.2m, glabrous to sparsely pubescent with short, fine, curved hairs. It is a twining vine and not a climbing vine so is often found growing along the ground. In southern China it grows in forests between 100-2,000m above sea level. It grows in hardiness zones 6-9. Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade. Preferred soil: Dry and Sandy. Bloom Color: Pink , Blue. Bloom Time: Jun to Aug. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. Herbaceous. Growth habit is a single or multiple shooting vine from a crown [1-2].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Butterfly pea, Atlantic pigeon wings, Biec tim, Taw-peik-san, Taw-pesein,

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam. In the United States it has been recorded in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Clitoria ternatea	Butterfly pea	Climber	3.0	10-11	F	LMH	N	DM	3	0	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Clitoria mariana - L.