Hyacinth bean plant
@GardenGerty (165549)
United States
August 23, 2025 12:07pm CST
To my knowledge, this is not edible. I will have to research it though. I have had many friends who have grown this vining plant and I always wanted one.
This year Zogie gave me a couple of plants. They looked pretty spindly but have survived. I think his plant gets more direct sun, as it has bloomed all summer.
The bloom looks a lot like a pea bloom and the hummingbirds and other creatures appreciate it being here. I planted mine to climb up various "shepherd's crook" plant hangers.
Just one more pretty thing in all the tall grass.
12 people like this
11 responses
@celticeagle (179002)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Aug
I doubt that they are. They do sound pretty in the grass.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
Internet says all parts of the plant are edible until the bean pods mature.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
@celticeagle If I had to live off the land I would be a vegetarian.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
The whole plant is edible, until the bean pods are mature. I do not know any one who has eaten them, though.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (79290)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Aug
@GardenGerty I've never heard of the plant, so I wouldn't know.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
@kaylachan Years ago I saw it growing at my sister's neighbor's house. Not someone she knew to talk to. I have seen it often here where I moved ten years ago.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
If I grow it next year, and I hope to, I will pinch it more when it is young so it is more of a bush.
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@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
I hope in the next week more will be blooming all at once. The ones Zogie has at his business are very impressive. He says I need to pinch mine back to make it bushy.
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@snowy22315 (195140)
• United States
23 Aug
@GardenGerty Makes sense...Zogie rules.
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@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
@snowy22315 I have pinched a few vines. I hope to get seed pods to grow this next year as well. Maybe in a sunnier spot. It can take full sun.
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@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
they do in a way look like orchids. I also like the flowers on Catalpa trees for the same reason. Do they have catalpas in Washington?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
@sallypup They have big heart shaped leaves. The leaves just turn to mush, but the flowers look like orchids and then they grow long (non edible) bean pods. They especially like riverbanks.
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@sallypup (65792)
• Centralia, Washington
23 Aug
@GardenGerty I think in Eastern WA there are catalpa trees. I need to look that up.
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@LindaOHio (199152)
• United States
24 Aug
Very pretty. My flower garden hasn't recovered yet from the dry weather.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
We never had any dry weather this year. My grass is awful and so are the weeds. It is cool today, though and I mowed some.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (199152)
• United States
25 Aug
@GardenGerty There is a guy that comes and sprays my weeds. I don't like the poisons; but I can't let the weeds grow to 5 feet again.
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
23 Aug
You can tell both from the flowers and leaves that it is a bean or pea family plant.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (158132)
• United States
24 Aug
Those are very pretty. I know you can't eat the mature beans on those but THINK the young ones can be used like regular beans.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
The internet says you can eat all parts of the plant except the mature beans.
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@DaddyEvil (158132)
• United States
26 Aug
@GardenGerty I didn't know the leaves/stems could be eaten, too. Very interesting!
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
Birds, bees, and butterflies think so too.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (88449)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Aug
I like that it looks so pretty.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165549)
• United States
24 Aug
I wish I had a huge trellis or archway with it on it.
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