Glycine

( GLYE - seen )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is commonly called Soybean or Soya Bean, and produces crops of edible beans used in many cuisines worldwide. Plants are native to Australia and East Asia, and typically have sprawling, climbing, or bushy habits. Leaves are green, and flowers are of the typical Fabaceae shape. Blooms are commonly pink or purple, 

Glycine Species and Varietals

The genus Glycine is a member of the plant family Fabaceae, and includes 28 species. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Glycine canescens (Silky Glycine)
This trailing, twining herbaceous plant is considered to be critically endangered due to habitat loss, and is a perennial native to Australia. It is being studied for its potential to improve on the common Soybean (Glycine max). Flowers in this species are pink to purple.

Glycine clandestina (Love Creeper, Twining Glycine)
This species is found mainly in Australia, and has a scrambling habit. Leaves are dark green and flowers are purple.

Glycine cyrtoloba 
Native to Queensland and New South Wales, Austrlia, these plants are wild crop relatives of the common Soybean (Glycine max).

Glycine latifolia 
Native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. This species is a perennial wild crop relative of the commercially grown Soybean (Glycine max). It has great resistance to a few of the common ailments that affect this genus of plants.

Glycine max (Soybean, Soya Bean)
These plants are grown worldwide on a very large scale, which has caused dramatic deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and other susceptible areas of the globe. About 80% of the crop grown worldwide is dedicated to feeding livestock to supply the meat industry.

Glycine microphylla (Small-Leaf Glycine)
This species of Glycine is a scrambling plant native to southeastern and northeastern Australia. Flowers vary in color on these plants from mauve to pink to purple.

Glycine soja (Wild Soybean)
This annual plant is the closest living wild relative to the domesticated Soybean (Glycine max) and is native to China, eastern Russia, and Japan. Good aphid resistance.

Glycine tabacina (Variable Glycine)
This plant is native to Australia, where it grows in moist environments with high rainfall. Flowers are bluish-purple, and bloom in the warmer months of the year. Butterflies love the nectar from these plants.

Glycine tomentella (Wooly Glycine, Rusty Glycine)
This species is found in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and coastal China, and produces pinkish to purple flowers. Stems and leaves are wooly, hence the common name Wooly Glycine.

Caring for Glycine



Harvesting Soybeans

Propagation

Soybean seeds are contained inside of the fuzzy green pods produced by plants.
Soybean seeds.

Problems and Pests

Glycine plants are susceptible to the following issues and pests:
  • Aphids
For more information on these problems, including how to correct them, see the following links.
​

Gallery

These plants produce high yields of edible seeds.
These plants are widely cultivated commercially.
Soya beans are consumed in many ways.
Young soybean seedlings.
Foliage of these plants is green and simple.
Bees are important pollinators of Soybean plants.

Videos

From seed to plate - how to grow Edamame.
Learn how to grow these crop plants.
Learn about the Soybean industry.
How to harvest these sought-after beans.

Resources

How to Plant, Grow and Care for Soybeans
Soybean Growth and Management Quick Guide
How to Grow Soybeans: From Planting to Harvesting the Crop
Wikipedia: Glycine (plant)
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 189, Bean
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
​