Nutritious yet slightly poisonous, tropical yet ideal as an annual in temperate gardens, fast-growing yet not invasive—that’s the hyacinth bean vine (Dolichos lablab or Lablab purpureus), one of the easiest plants to grow for food or for decoration.
Are hyacinth vines poisonous?
The hyacinth bean vine (Lablab purpureus) is a mesmerizing and colorful plant with its purple pea pods and pink flowery foliage. It is a poisonous plant, so precautions are to be taken. The plant dates back to the early 1800s when it was remarked as Thomas Jefferson’s bean plant.
Does hyacinth bean vine need full sun?
Grow Hyacinth Vine: Full sun, part shade in hottest climates. Any soil with good drainage. Plants tolerate drought, bloom is heavier with regular water. Flashy, fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
How do you grow hyacinth vines from seed?
Not a true bean but a member of the pea family, purple hyacinth bean vine does best seeded directly in the garden. Plant when temperatures warm in the spring and nights are above 50℉. Plant hyacinth bean seeds 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart. Soak seeds for 6-8 hours before planting to speed germination.
Do hyacinths climb?
Purple hyacinth bean vines climb by twining around structures and other plants. You can use them to add height to a border, by growing them up a teepee or trellis. They may need some initial training to reach the support, but once attached, they will take it from there.
How long does it take for hyacinth vines to bloom?
Expect blooms from mid- to late summer. Pods will start forming about 90 days after planting. You may need to prune the vines for aesthetic purposes, or to keep them from growing too tall for your support.
What does a hyacinth bean vine look like?
A vigorous, ornamental, annual vine, purple hyacinth bean plant (Dolichos lablab or Lablab purpurea), displays beautiful, pinkish-purple blossoms and interesting, reddish-purple pods that grow to be about the same size as lima bean pods. Because of this, the hyacinth bean is also known as Jefferson bean.
Is hyacinth bean vine annual or perennial?
Purple hyacinth beans can be perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10 and above. They may even develop woody stems, although they tend to be short-lived. In other areas, they are grown as annuals. Plants may reseed if the pods are left over winter.
Is hyacinth a perennial?
Hyacinths bloom just once per year (in the spring), but they will happily bloom again in subsequent years if provided with the proper care. They are a perennial plant.
Do hyacinths come back every year?
How do you care for a hyacinth bean vine?
Hyacinth bean vine likes rich, loamy soil best but will tolerate other soil types, too. Feeding it every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer like fish fertilizer will also help it develop lush growth. We plant hyacinth bean vine in our Zone 7 garden from seed in spring after the chance of frost has passed.
Can you grow hyacinth bean vines over fences?
The large, purple-tinted leaves of the hyacinth bean vine provide shade as well as beauty as they hang from sturdy, burgundy stems that twine and twirl along fences and walls and over arbors and trellises, extending up to 17 feet in a single growing season. Hyacinth bean vines grow over our back garden gate.
What is a purple hyacinth bean vine?
Purple hyacinth bean vine leaves are attractive and heart-shaped, pink-purple blooms and produce leathery purple seed pods that provide interest long after the blooms have faded. A member of the Fabaceae family this ornamental vine is a relative of beans and peas and makes an attractive addition to vegetable and ornamental gardens.
How long do hyacinths take to grow?
But as the weather warms up, hyacinth beans grow fast and furiously. Expect blooms from mid- to late summer. Pods will start forming about 90 days after planting. You may need to prune the vines for aesthetic purposes, or to keep them from growing too tall for your support.
