Hyacinth bean

Although this is a perennial native to the tropics, it is cultivated as an annual on the Canadian prairies. It is a fast grower with dark green, purple tinted foliage and fragrant clusters of showy pink (or rarely white) flowers that resemble little sweet peas. If you are sick of morning glories or sweet peas, hyacinth beans are an excellent alternative!

Although it has naturalized in Hawaii, the hyacinth bean is unlikely to self sow in your garden. You can save a few of the seeds which are round, black and white and strangely pretty. Though much of the plant is edible, the seeds require special cooking methods to remove toxins so we don't recommend eating them.

Hyacinth beans perform best in a warm, sunny spot with rich soil and good moisture conditions. In cold, wet summers, they will be very disappointing. In a good year, hyacinth beans can climb 6-9 ft. They grow well in containers and can be good plants for balconies and places where you need to create a little extra privacy. Butterflies are fond of the flowers.

The cultivar ‘Ruby Moon’ produces enormous, deep scarlet seedpods that complement the flowers perfectly.