Green Beans Phaseolus vulgaris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FAZ-ee-oh-lus vul-GAIR-iss
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Phaseolus vulgaris, commonly referred to as beans, is a heavily hybridized garden vegetable in the Fabaceae (bean) family. They may take a climbing, trailing, or bush-like form. Native to the tropical regions of the Americas, Phaseolus vulgaris prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soils.
Beans make an excellent addition to a home vegetable garden. While it depends on the variety, seedlings should be transplanted once the first true leaves have emerged and individual plants should be spaced between 6 inches and 3 feet apart.
The genus Phaseolus is commercially divided into four categories, including wax beans, dry beans, shelling beans, and popping beans. All beans are ecologically beneficial as they form a symbiotic relationship between nodules on their roots and nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. This bacteria adds much needed nitrogen back into soil profiles. Beans also form another symbiotic relationship in their roots with mycorrhizal fungi. The mycorrhizal fungi gain carbon from the host plant and in turn they increase the root surface area allowing for better uptake of water and nutrients, especially slow moving phosphorus.
Pests, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rattlesnake'
Pole Snap Bean
- 'Rattlesnake'
- 'Rattlesnake'
- Tags:
































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rattlesnake'
Pole Snap Bean
- 'Rattlesnake'
- 'Rattlesnake'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phaseolus
- Species:
- vulgaris
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical America
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Vine
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. Wide variety in color and shape between cultivars.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical, pea-like, and can be shades of yellow, white, pink, or red.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Ternate in shape; three broadly ovate leaflets per leaf.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- The raw or undercooked beans (especially kidney beans) cause severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Usually resolves within a few hours.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Phytohaemagglutinin, a lectin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds