Hyacinth Bean

(Lablab purpureus)

Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus)

Cheng-Tao Lin

CC BY 4.0

Image By: Cheng-Tao Lin

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Lablab purpureus, commonly known as Hyacinth Bean, is a deciduous perennial vine or herb, originally from warm temperate to tropical regions of Africa and South Asia, where it thrives in open woodlands and bushland. It is grown as an annual in temperate climates and as a short-lived perennial in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant can reach lengths of up to six meters with thick, twining stems. Its trifoliate leaves are composed of three pointed leaflets, each up to 15 centimeters long, which may be hairy on the undersides. The Hyacinth Bean blooms in summer to early fall, producing showy racemes of flowers that can be white, purplish, or blue, depending on the cultivar. Following flowering, the plant bears distinctive legume pods that are variable in shape and color, ranging from bright purple to pale green, and contain up to four seeds. Seeds vary in color—white, brown, red, or black—and may be mottled in wild plants.

This vine is valued for its ornamental flowers and pods, which add a tropical flair to gardens. It is often used for trellises, arbors, and fences, providing quick coverage and vertical interest. Hyacinth Bean is relatively easy to grow, requiring full sun to part shade, regular watering, and well-draining soil. It is also drought-tolerant once established. While it is not typically prone to serious diseases or pests, it can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soils. In some regions, it can become invasive, so gardeners should monitor its growth and remove seed pods to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Vine, Herb
Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 3-6 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Originally from warm temperate to tropical regions of Africa and South Asia, thriving in open woodlands and bushland

Other Names

Common Names: Banner Bean, Black Bean, Bonavist Bean, Hyacinthbean, Lablab Bean, Lablab-Bean, Egyptian Kidney Bean, Indian Bean, Dolichos Bean, Seim

Scientific Names: , Lablab purpureus, Dolichos purpureus, Dolichos benghalensis, Lablab niger subsp. bengalensis, Lablab nigra,

GBIF Accepted Name: Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet