Glycine

( GLYE - seen )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, primarily native to Australia and East Asia, is commonly called Soybean, and produces crops of edible beans used in many cuisines worldwide. 

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

Propagation

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

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 
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!
​