butterfly pea
B2/C1Formal/informal for botany and horticulture; informal/technical for culinary and health contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A tropical climbing plant of the pea family, known for its distinctive bright blue (or sometimes white) flowers.
The plant is grown ornamentally and its flowers are used to make a natural blue food colouring and a traditional herbal tea.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to plants in the genus Clitoria. The term can be used to name the plant itself or its flowers, and also the beverage or colouring made from them.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the common name 'butterfly pea'. The specific species name 'Clitoria ternatea' is used in scientific contexts worldwide.
Connotations
Neutral botanical/culinary term in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but equally known in gardening, herbal tea, and culinary circles in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] butterfly pea [verb: grows/climbs/blooms] [prepositional phrase: in the garden/on the trellis].[We] [verb: make/brew/steep] [object: tea/a drink] [preposition: from/with] butterfly pea flowers.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with this specific plant term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in the context of herbal tea retail, natural food colouring supply, or botanical product marketing.
Academic
Used in botanical, horticultural, and phytochemical research papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing gardening, herbal teas, natural cooking, or DIY crafts.
Technical
Used in agriculture (as a cover crop), food science (as a pH-sensitive anthocyanin source), and pharmacology (for traditional medicine studies).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Not standard as a verb]
American English
- [Not standard as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
American English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The cake had a lovely butterfly-pea hue.
- She bought some butterfly-pea powder online.
American English
- The cocktail was a vibrant butterfly-pea blue.
- They sell butterfly-pea extract at the health store.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This tea is blue. It is from a butterfly pea flower.
- I see a blue flower. It is a butterfly pea.
- We grew a butterfly pea plant in our garden this summer.
- Butterfly pea tea changes colour if you add lemon juice.
- The natural food industry is increasingly using butterfly pea extract as a blue colourant.
- Researchers are studying the potential antioxidant properties of the butterfly pea.
- The anthocyanins in Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as the butterfly pea, exhibit a striking pH-dependent chromism.
- Cultivation of butterfly pea as a cover crop can improve soil nitrogen content in tropical regions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a butterfly that loves peas so much it turned into a blue-flowered vine: the Butterfly Pea.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NATURAL DYE IS A PLANT. / A HEALTHY BEVERAGE IS A FLOWER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'бабочка горох'. The standard Russian botanical term is 'клитория тройчатая' or the descriptive 'мотыльковый горошек'.
- Do not confuse with 'sweet pea' (душистый горошек), which is a different ornamental plant.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling error: 'butterfly pe*a*' -> 'butterfly pe*a*'.
- Confusing it with other pea-family plants that have 'butterfly' in their name, like the 'butterfly bean'.
- Using it as a countable noun for individual flowers ('a butterfly pea') is less common than referring to the plant as a whole.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary modern use of the butterfly pea flower outside of ornamental gardening?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when made from the flowers of Clitoria ternatea, it is generally considered safe and is a traditional beverage in parts of Asia. As with any herbal product, consult a professional if you have specific health concerns.
The tea contains pH-sensitive anthocyanin pigments. Adding an acid like lemon juice (low pH) turns it purple or pink, while a base creates a deeper blue or green.
It is a tropical perennial vine. In cold climates, it is often grown as an annual in summer or kept indoors in a pot, as it is not frost-tolerant.
Yes, 'blue pea' is a common synonym for the same plant, Clitoria ternatea. Other names include Asian pigeonwings.