Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,275 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Butterfly Pea: observations by month (U.S.)
About Butterfly Pea
Centrosema virginianum is known by the common names of Spurred Butterfly Pea,wild blue vine, blue bell, and wild pea. C. virginianum is a member of the Fabaceae family, it is identified by its trailing and twining vine and showy flowers. C. virginianum habitats are in sunny areas within pine lands, and coastal uplands.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Butterfly Pea by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 541 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Mississippi | 404 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Texas | 401 | May | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 251 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Georgia | 202 | August | Jun–Sep |
| South Carolina | 140 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 133 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 104 | August | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 41 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 25 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 18 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 14 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Butterfly Pea?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Butterfly Pea most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Mississippi, Texas.