Samsamping/Butterfly Pea

20131213_090437Samsamping – Butterfly pea (Scientific name – clitoria ternate)

I’m a member of a community garden and as most gardeners I’m curious of what other gardeners have in their plot. This blue flowers caught my attention and I asked for some seeds because I love blue flowers. I asked for the name of the plant but my friend said that a Filipino friend gave it to him and that the beans is supposed to be edible.  I never seen or heard of this plant when I was growing up in the Philippines so I didn’t  have a clue either. I posted the flower in Facebook and asked anybody who knows the name and somebody responded it is called “samsamping” an Ilocano word. I don’t know if there is a Tagalog word for it.

I like this “samsamping” plant.  It is easy to grow.  Right now my plant is full of beautiful blue flowers and some have already formed into beans. I don’t know if I like to eat the beans but I sure love the flowers and the butterflies and bees love them too.  The beans are green and look just like the jicama seeds only thinner.

At least now I know what I will call these amazing blue flowers.

 

Similar Posts

  • Kale

    Kale is becoming the most popular vegetable nowadays because of the health benefits it provides. It has cholesterol lowering properties which is good for me because my cholesterol is quite high according to my doctor. It also lowers the risk of certain type of cancers like ovarian cancer which I battled with two years ago….

  • Kinchay

    Kinchay or Leaf Celery (Chinese Celery) is a very versatile herb that we use for everyday cooking in the Philippines. It has the flavor and aroma that we like to impart in our local dishes like pancit, chop suey and soups.

  • Lettuce

    More tips about lettuce, let some plants to bolt into flower. Then save the seeds for your next planting. I always do especially the ones I have right now is not available anymore in the catalogs. My old friend ordered it from Parks Seed, but they do not have it anymore. The variety is called…

  • Cucumber/Poona Kheera

    Cucumber or pipino as we call it in the Philippines is my favorite salad vegetable. I also make pickle out of it. But I really don’t have luck in growing cucumbers. Last month, a friend of mine gave me some seeds which he said came from Sri Lanka. I immediately planted it and see how…

  • Snow Peas

    Snow Peas are one of my favorite vegetables. It is sweet and crunchy especially when it’s fresh. I eat them while gathering in my garden and I sometimes run out of beans to cook. Now is the time to plant this succulent vegetables.  It is a little bit cooler and the rains we are having…

  • Super Chili

    I bought this super chili plant to to see how it will perform in my garden. Besides, my husband loves to eat them, the hotter the better for him. I like the pepper fruit because it is much bigger than the Hawaiian chili pepper which incidentally I am growing too in the garden. I have…