Phaseolus

( FAZ- ee - oh - lus )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of herbaceous to woody annual and perennial vines is native to the Americas and is an important food source worldwide. Plants are commonly called Bean or Wild Bean, and are native to the Americas. They have been domesticated since pre-Colombian times and are now cultivated in most areas of the globe. 

Phaseolus Species and Varietals

The genus Phaseolus is a member of the plant family Fabaceae, and includes over 70 species. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary Bean, Pavi, Escomite, Yorimuni)
These plants, native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, have low water requirements and have been a staple food in their native region for many years. They can be climbing, trailing, or erect plants with green, pointed leaves. Flowers are light pink.

Phaseolus angustissimus (Slimleaf Bean)
This species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and is a close relative of Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary Bean). It is a perennial, herbaceous vine trails along rocky and eroded hillsides.

Phaseolus coccineus (Scarlet Runner Bean, Runner Bean, Multiflora Bean, Butter Bean, Oregon Lima Bean, Ayocote)
These perennial vining plants are grown both as crop plants and ornamentals in many gardens around the world, and are native to Central America. Most varieties have red flowers and multicolored seeds, though there are some with white flowers and white seeds. Grown from a tuberous root. 

Phaseolus dumosus (Year Bean, Year-Long Bean)
This annual or perennial herbaceous vine is native to Guatemala and is widely grown as a staple food source. This species was recently discovered to actually be a hybrid between Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus vulgaris. 

Phaseolus filiformis (Slimjim Bean, Slender-Stem Bean, Wright's Limabean, Wright's Phaseolus)
This wild bean species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and produces pink flowers. Bean pods are small, about an inch long maximum. 

Phaseolus lunatus (Lima Bean, Butter Bean, Sieva Bean, Double Bean, Madagascar Bean, Java Bean)
These plants are native to Peru, and is a common warm season crop grown in the United States. Popular bush varieties of this species include 'Henderson', 'Eastland', 'Jackson Wonder', 'Dixie Butterpea', and 'Fordhook 242'. Commonly grown pole varieties include 'Carolina Sieva', 'Giant Speckled', 'Big 6', 'Willow Leaf', 'Mezcla', and 'King of the Garden'.

Phaseolus luteola (Hairy Cowpea, Hairypod Cowpea, Nile Bean, Yellow Vigna)
This tropical short-lived perennial vine produces green to black-brown pods containing large black seeds. Pod twists and opens spirally when the seeds are to be dispersed. 

Phaseolus maculatus (Metcalfe Bean, Prairie Bean, Spotted Bean)
This species is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States where it naturally grows on rocky hillsides These plants produce trailing herbaceous stems from a large, woody taproot, and have pink flowers. Often used as livestock forage.

Phaseolus pauciflorus (Few-Flowered Bean)
This wild bean species is native to Mexico and Guatemala and produces few magenta-pink flowers.

Phaseolus polystachios (Thicket Bean, Wild Kidney Bean)
This perennial herbaceous vine is native to North America and southwest Canada, and is closely related to the Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus). These plants require at least 10 hours of light per day to flower and leaf out, and is dormant in the wintertime, storing energy in its tuberous root.

Phaseolus ritensis (Santa Rita Mountain Bean, Cocolmeca)
​These plants are native to Mexico where it grows in forested mountain areas. These plants produce a large, woody taproot and have pink to lavender flowers. Ripened fruits and roots are important food sources in these plants' native range.
Phaseolus vulgaris (Common Bean)
​This plant is widely grown around the globe for its edible dry seeds and green ripe pods. These plants can be classified as bush beans or climbing beans, and this species has many varieties to choose from. Some of the more commonly grown beans are listed and described below.
Anasazi (Frijol Conejo)
Dappled red and white beans
Appaloosa
Half ivory, half reddish-brown beans cultivated in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.
Black Turtle
Small, shiny black beans that are popular in Latin cuisine.
Bolita Bean
Cultivated in New Mexico, this variety produces white-tan to purplish beans.
Calypso (Panda, Yin-Yang)
Half black, half white beans that have edible pods when young, and are also great for drying.
Cranberry
White beans with cranberry red markings.
Dragon Tongue
A type of Cranberry Bean, with reddish shells and greenish beans. Juicy beans.
Flageolet
Picked early and allowed to dry in the shade to retain color. Firm and creamy texture.
Kidney (Red)
These beans are used in many dishes, including red beans and rice.
Jacob's Cattle (Trout)
Beans dappled with red and white markings.
Mocha with Cherry
A pole-bean variety with white and dappled red and white areas.
North Holland Brown
Dutch heirloom bush bean variety that produces tannish brown beans.
Painted Pony Pea
Climbing beans that are reddish-brown and white.
Peruano (Peruvian, Mexican Yellow, Canary)
This variety is used for making refried beans, and are creamy and buttery in texture.
Pink (Habichuelas rosadas)
Small, pale pink beans that are a staple in Santa Maria-style barbeque dishes.
Pinto
Mottled brown and dark brown skin; the most common bean found in the U.S. and Mexico.
Polish Eagle (Independence)
With markings similar to an eagle, a Polish emblem of independence.
Rattlesnake
Medium-sized bean with brown markings on a light brown seed. Pods coil around vines in a snake-like manner.
Sulphur (China Yellow)
Nearly round yellowish heirloom variety with a distinct flavor that cooks to white.
Tiger's Eye
Native to Chile or Argentina, a bean that resembles Tiger's Eye rocks.
White (Navy, Haricot)
Popular in the United Kingdom and United States.
Yellow (Enola Type)
Native to Mexico and uncommon in the U.S. due to a patent issue.
Yellow Eye
A popular baking bean in Maine. Clean, mild taste. Heirloom variety 'Steuben' is a choice selection.

Caring for Phaseolus

Phaseolus prefers to be planted in full sun. Between six and eight hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal for optimal growth and flowering for most crop species. Before planting, decide whether to support the plant with a trellis or structure of some kind to climb. Bush-type varieties will not need support. Ensure that soil is well-draining before installing plants; they do not like to have wet feet. These plants prefer neutral to acidic soil that has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. If soil is overly clay or does not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic material and/or sand to improve drainage, aeration and structure. If soils are particularly poor or hard to work with, it may be necessary to grow these plants in raised beds or containers. Make sure that containers and raised beds have adequate drainage. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of plants to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperature, and increase soil moisture retention. Water plants consistently, especially during flowering and fruiting, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid issues with root rot taking hold. Do not wet foliage; apply water to the base of plants.

Amend the planting area with organic compost to supply plants with necessary nutrients for the flowering and fruiting season. This should be sufficient, though if plants seem to be struggling or if they are growing in particularly poor soils, they may benefit from a balanced (10-10-10), slow-release fertilizer application once a month during the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen (N), as this will encourage a lot of leafy growth at the expense of flowering and subsequent fruiting. Pruning is relatively simple for these plants. Simply remove dead, damaged, diseased, or errant growth as it becomes problematic, and pinch tips back to encourage a bushier growth. Make sure mulch is applied to the base of plants, and use frost cloths when necessary to protect foliage and shoots.

Propagation

Phaseolus is best propagated from seed. To propagate your bean plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Phaseolus by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, especially if a hybrid cultivar is being propagated. You will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Caesalpinia plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Caesalpinia seeds have a hard coating that protects them, but this coating also makes it a little difficult to get them to germinate. We can help the process along by scarifying them with sandpaper (or simply rubbing them against an abrasive surface). Do this with as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want. Place your seeds in lukewarm water for six hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Phaseolus plants are susceptible to the following issues and pests:
  • Aphids
  • Bean Stem Flies
  • Whiteflies
  • Leafminers
  • Pod Borers
  • Bean Gall Weevil
  • Bean Leaf Beetle
  • Stinkbugs
  • Angular Leaf Spot
  • Anthracnose
  • Rust
  • Bacterial Blight
  • Fusarium
  • Downy Midew
  • Web Blight
For more information on these problems, including how to correct them, see the following links.
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Gallery

Beans typically are vining, and need some support to grow well.
Phaseolus flowers are typical of the Fabaceae plant family.
These plants are pollinated by many insects, including bees.
Bean pods come in a variety of colors, depending on the species and cultivar grown.
Trellises and arbors are common structures used for growing these plants.
Bush beans are great for small spaces, and don't typically need support.
These plants can be grown in the ground, and also do well in containers.
Beans come in a variety of colors and designs.
Beans can be fun plants for kids - especially when grown on play structures.

Videos

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Resources

Growing Beans in Home Gardens
Bean - Grow and Care Sheets
​How to Grow and Care for Common Beans
Wikipedia: Phaseolus
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