A drooping Calopogonium caeruleum flower spike with purple flowers in sunlight
Calopogonium caeruleum

Calopogonium caeruleum is native to tropical regions of the Americas. It is a perennial twining or trailing legume that thrives in warm, humid environments.
The inflorescences are elongated racemes that can reach over 12 in long, bearing numerous small flowers that open sequentially from the base upward. Each bloom is about 0.3–0.4 in across, with the typical papilionaceous shape of legumes, displaying violet to bluish petals that fade as they age. Flowering can occur year-round. Beyond its ornamental appeal, Calopogonium caeruleum is sometimes used as a cover crop in agroforestry systems due to its nitrogen-fixing ability, contributing to improved soil fertility. It is easily propagated by seed or stem cuttings and can form dense ground cover in managed plantings. Photographed in the departments of Antioquia, Magadalena and Risaralda, Colombia.

A leaning Calopogonium caeruleum flower spike with purple flowers
Calopogonium caeruleum purple flowers
Calopogonium caeruleum inflorescence with purple flower
Calopogonium caeruleum inflorescences with brown sepals and purple flower

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