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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Centrosema virginianum (Butterfly pea)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth.

Butterfly pea, Spurred butterfly pea

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

USDA Symbol: CEVI2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Trailing or twining vine with violet flowers, single or in clusters of 2-4 in the axils of compound leaves.

The flowers of this delicate showy vine are recognized by their upside-down position. Sand Butterfly-pea (C. arenicola) has ovate leaflets indented at the base; Florida Butterfly-pea (C. floridana), with oval to lanceolate leaflets up to 3 (7.5 cm) long, occurs in the pinewoods of Florida.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Size Notes: Climber
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: New Jersey south to Florida; west to Texas; north to Arkansas.
Native Habitat: Acid soils, sandy woodlands, and fields.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), PR(N), VI(N)

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1114 Collected 2011-09-18 in Harrison County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Centrosema virginianum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Centrosema virginianum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Centrosema virginianum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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