Milk Butterfly Pea Plant Care
Clitoria lactescens L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Galactia regularis, the downy milk pea or eastern milkpea, is a perennial species of herb or vine in the bean family. It is native to the entire southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida, north to New Jersey and west through Kansas.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
65–85°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Milk Butterfly Pea?
Water Milk Butterfly Pea every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 4 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Milk Butterfly Pea Native To?
What Is the Milk Butterfly Pea?
Milk Butterfly Pea (Clitoria lactescens) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Clitoria genus. Milk Butterfly Pea is native to the entire southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida, north to New Jersey and west through Kansas.
Milk Butterfly Pea displays a vining, trailing growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Milk Butterfly Pea produces showy blue, pink, or white pea-like flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Milk Butterfly Pea?
Clitoria lactescens requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Milk Butterfly Pea Need?
Milk Butterfly Pea thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Milk Butterfly Pea Prefer?
Clitoria lactescens grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Milk Butterfly Pea prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Milk Butterfly Pea?
Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Milk Butterfly Pea to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Milk Butterfly Pea?
Feed Milk Butterfly Pea every 4 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 4 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Milk Butterfly Pea?
Repot annually in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Milk Butterfly Pea?
Milk Butterfly Pea can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to fairchild's clitoria plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Milk Butterfly Pea Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Milk Butterfly Pea, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Milk Butterfly Pea?
Milk Butterfly Pea is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Milk Butterfly Pea Need?
Milk Butterfly Pea grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Milk Butterfly Pea is native to the entire southeastern United States, from Texas east to Florida, north to New Jersey and west through Kansas. In cooler regions, grow Milk Butterfly Pea as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Milk Butterfly Pea is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Clitoria genus — compare its care with other Clitoria species on PlantoScan.
Clitoria is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Milk Butterfly Pea thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Clitoria Species
Other Clitoria species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Clitoria lactescens L., family Fabaceae (first published in Syst. Nat. ed. 10 , 2: 1172 (1759)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Milk Butterfly Pea, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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