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Definition of butterfly pea

butterfly pea

Plural:butterfly peas
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• noun

1

A tropical climbing vine of the legume family (Fabaceae), specifically Clitoria ternatea, native to equatorial Asia and cultivated for its striking, vivid deep-blue blossoms with pale yellow centers that are widely steeped to make color-changing herbal teas and natural food dyes.

Example

"Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to an infusion of butterfly pea flowers turns the deep cobalt liquid a brilliant shade of purple."

2

North American Any of various twining leguminous plants of the genus Centrosema native to the Americas, bearing large, showy lavender, violet, or pink pea-like blossoms.

Example

"Wild butterfly pea vines trailed across the sandy pine barrens, displaying their delicate lavender blooms."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for butterfly pea

• Nearby Words

butterfish
butterfly
butterfly bush
butterfly pea
butterfly weed
butterflyfish
butterknife

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Butterfly pea. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/butterfly-pea
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