Hyacinth Bean Lablab purpureus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dolichos lablab
- Dolichos purpureus
- Phonetic Spelling
- LAB-lab pur-PUR-ee-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Hyacinth Bean has been grown as food for the beans, flowers and leaves in Africa. Asia and the Caribbean. In this country, it has been used for used as forage, hay, and silage for cattle. It is also used to fix nitrogen in fallow land. Currently, the most common use in this country is as an ornamental crop in the cut flower industry. It is valued for its late summer flowers and colorful, purple peapods.
Hyacinth bean is a twining vine with purplish stems and can be grown as an annual vine in the home garden for the ornamental flowers and bean pods. Grow on a sturdy trellis to support the weight of the vine. It prefers light moist well-drained soils in sun. Plant after danger of frost has passed. It does well in hot humid climates.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
- 'Giganteus'
- 'Rudy Ruby'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Giganteus', 'Rudy Ruby'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
- 'Giganteus'
- 'Rudy Ruby'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Giganteus', 'Rudy Ruby'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lablab
- Species:
- purpureus
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It has been used in the Philippines and China as a stimulant, to reduce fever, to reduce flatulence, to stimulate digestion, and as an antispasmodic. In Namibia, the root has been used to treat heart conditions.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds, a good choice for food plots and will attract deer.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Mature dried seeds are edible if thoroughly boiled, changing the water several times. Young immature pods can be cooked and eaten.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Purple seedpods are 2 to 4 in. long smooth, flat, pointed, and contain 2 to 4 seeds. Seeds can be white, cream, pale brown, dark brown, red, black, or mottled depending on the variety.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The fragrant flowers are in elongated clusters, pea-shaped and white, pink, or purple
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately divided leaves with 3 large leaflets 3-6 inches long. Each egg-shaped leaflet is smooth above and shorthaired below.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Purplish stems
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic only if large quantities are eaten. Weakness, vomiting, labored breathing, twitching, stupor, convulsions from mature dried seeds. TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
