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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', 'Giganteus', 'Rudy Ruby'
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#summer annual#nectar plant#privacy#twining#ornamental vine#purple stems#exotic looking#edible garden#humidity tolerant#vine#butterfly friendly#annual#annual vine#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
  • 'Giganteus'
  • 'Rudy Ruby'
'Alba', 'Giganteus', 'Rudy Ruby'
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#summer annual#nectar plant#privacy#twining#ornamental vine#purple stems#exotic looking#edible garden#humidity tolerant#vine#butterfly friendly#annual#annual vine#wildlife friendly
  • 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