Hyacinth Bean Vine plants are a fast-growing, flowering vine, with pretty purple flowers. The attractive leaves of this ornamental plant are green with purple veins. If you’re looking for an annual flowering vine that grows at a stellar pace, the Hyacinth Bean Vine is for you. It grows up to 15 feet in a single season! This plant is not related to the Hyacinth bulb plant. It is a member of the legume family.
It is easy to grow. Hyacinth Bean flowers bloom from summer through fall in purple and some white colors. Butterflies are attracted to the bright blooms.
As a flowering vine, it needs some type of support to climb. A trellis or fence works well. The support should be big enough to support ten to fifteen feet of vine growth.
Important Note: Raw bean seeds are poisonous. They need to be boiled for a long time, to make them safe to eat. They are a food crop in some parts of the world.
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, loved his gardens at his estate in Monticello, Virginia. He was not a big meat eater. As a result, he maintained a sizeable kitchen garden. He experimented and grew over 89 species and 330 varieties of vegetables.
Among the many plants that Thomas Jefferson grew was the Hyacinth Bean Vine plant. In 1804, he bought some of the seeds from his nurseryman and planted them in his garden. It is among the many varieties of plants he loved and cherished. He referred to the plant more than once in his writings. Groundskeepers grow the Hyacinth Bean Vine at Monticello to this day. Look for them in the summer when you tour his estate.
Flower Colors: The vine produces pink, purple, red, and white flowers.
Flowers Bloom: Summer to Fall.
Plant height: 8 – 15 feet, not too bad for an annual!!
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Ideal Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5.
Toxic?: Yes. The raw beans are toxic to humans and pets.
Deer Resistant?: Yes. It has a strong, unpleasant scent. And, the plant is toxic.
Hardiness Zones: 10 – 11
Plant Type: Most people grow this tender perennial as an annual plant.
Native To: Sub-Saharan Africa and India.
Botanical Name: Dolichos Lablab
Other Names: Egyptian Bean, Indian Bean, The Jefferson Bean, LabLab, Tobacco Vine, Tonge Bean
YES and NO!!!
The young pods, seeds, and leaves are edible. Use them in salads, soups, stews, and a variety of recipes.
However, the raw beans are toxic. They contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides. When eaten raw, the stomach acids convert this chemical to cyanide! The beans must be properly cooked before they are edible. To cook out the toxin, boil the beans in water. Drain and refill the water two or three times. If this causes you to avoid eating the beans, we can’t blame you. There are plenty of other perfectly safe vegetables.
Despite the toxic properties of the raw beans, Hyacinth Bean Vines have a variety of medicinal applications. Here are some of them:
Caution: As mentioned, the raw beans are toxic. Do not make or use any home medicinal concoctions unless you are trained to properly do so.
Hyacinth Bean Vine are grown from seeds. Sow Hyacinth Bean Vine seeds directly into your flower garden after all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1 1/2″ deep. Final plant spacing should be six inches apart.
Seeds germination period requires two to three weeks. For indoor starts, try a seedling germination mat.
Tip: For more successful germination, soak seeds overnight, before planting.
Do not plant seeds until after the last frost date in your area. Plants are susceptible to frost.
Days to Germination: 14 – 21 days.
Hyacinth Bean Vine is easy to grow. Grow in full sun. Plants prefer rich, well-draining soils to fuel their fast, season-long growth. Mix a healthy dose of compost into the soil before planting.
Plants like a lot of water and nutrients. While they like lots of water, they do not like wet soil. Keep soil moist, not wet. Add fertilizer when planting and every month during the season. Use a high phosphorous formula just before the first blooming period.
Plants will begin to bloom in summer and continue to do so into the fall. After the flowers bloom, purple pods will begin to form. They grow up to three inches. Raw beans inside are poisonous. Keep away from children and pets. Boiling beans for a long period cooks out the poison and makes beans edible.
Plants are annuals that are very susceptible to frost. They may still be in bloom when frost arrives. Unfortunately, covering this long vine may prove impractical.
Hyacinth Bean Vine are good “re-seeders”. If the pods are allowed to open and pour out their beans, you will find many new plants next year. Do not disturb the soil until seedlings have begun to grow. Thinning will almost certainly be needed.
Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0.
Insect and disease problems are infrequent. Treat with insecticides, repellents or fungicide as needed.
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