Hyacinth Bean Vine

This newly-popular plant is a big garden hit these days but since it has previously been claimed by most of the rest of the world, it isn't really new at all. Also known as Indian Bean, Egyptian Bean, Dolichos lablab, Lablab purpureus, Bonavist, Chinese Flowering Bean and Pharoah Bean, it is widely grown in Africa, India and Asia for use as food for both humans and livestock. Its most prestigious role in the United States has been in the gardens of Thomas Jefferson's historic farm, Monticello.

If you haven't seen it yet, you need only catch a quick glimpse to know that it is not soon forgotten. The leaves are dark green but have maroon stems. In mid- to late-summer, it blooms like sweet peas with racemes of small pink and white flowers and eventually produces long, maroon seed pods.

With its striking and romantic color combination, hyacinth bean is a very pretty plant. It is also drought-resistant and can be easily grown for trellises, arbors, fences or walls but can also be used as ground cover. If you intend to grow it vertically, be sure that your trellis, arbor or fence can take some weight, as these vigorous growers can easily surpass ten feet in height and pull heavily on their growing structures. Hyacinth bean would look very pretty planted near something with white flowers, such as vinca, or along a white fence or arbor.

To plant hyacinth bean vine, soak the seeds overnight in warm water then plant them one inch deep in soil that will receive full sun. You can start the seeds indoors if you like, but do not put them outside until after the danger of frost has passed. If you intend to plant more than one, space the seeds at least six inches apart. The beginnings of the plant should start to emerge after seven to 20 days. Hyacinth bean is an annual that will self-sow if you leave it but would have a better chance if you collected the seeds yourself at the end of the growing season and saved them in a cool, dark place until next year.

The pods and seeds are edible, but due to the presence of cyanogenic glycoside, a poison which will cause gastrointestinal and nervous system disorders if consumed in large quantities, the beans must be boiled thoroughly in water that is changed twice during cooking.

Hyacinth bean is a beautiful, versatile and fun addition to any landscape. With its vivid color display and interesting seedpods, it is sure to be a conversation starter in any yard or garden.