The Vining Purple Plant Pollinators Love That's Perfect For A Small Garden

Those of us with big dreams for our pollinator gardens don't have to wait until we have more acreage to start attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to our yards. Even small plots can make a large impact, and you can fit in more than you might think if you choose just the right plants for your outdoor space. For some gardeners, spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum) might be the perfectly-sized climbing plant to effortlessly fill a yard with color while attracting pollinators with its purple blooms.

This member of the pea family is a twining vine that bears compound leaves made up of three leaflets, and showy flowers that tend to be purple — but can also be pink or blue. The blooms appear in summer in its northern range, or all year long in places like South Florida. With a widespread native range, gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 11 can grow spurred butterfly pea in their yards in well-draining soils and in full sun or part shade. It grows equally well in moist or dry conditions, and makes a good selection for coastal regions. And since it's easy to grow, there are reasons why you should count this adaptable perennial among the best plants for your pollinator garden.

Spurred butterfly is among the climbing plants that will turn your backyard into a haven for butterflies and bees — and with good reason. Its blooms provide nectar for beneficial insects, and the shape of the purple flowers is well-adapted to being pollinated by bees. But that's not all. This vine is a larval host for two different types of butterflies, which means that long-tailed skippers and northern cloudy wing caterpillars depend on this species for food in order to later metamorphose into beautiful, flying insects. Plus, as a U.S. native plant, this will be a perfect choice for supporting pollinators in the Mid-Atlantic states to the south-central region, from New Jersey to Texas.

This species can be grown in small gardens as well as large ones. Spurred butterfly pea's vines can grow 3 to 12 feet long, but they only spread 6 to 12 inches wide, making them an excellent choice for a pollinator-friendly plant for a tight space, provided enough sun is available. This low-maintenance climber can be grown on a trellis — or if you don't even have room for a trellis, it can grow on a tree or shrub for support without damaging its companion. Keep in mind, however, that it can be hard to find this purple-bloomed vine at nurseries, so you'll probably have to grow your own from seed.