RUBY MOON HYACINTH BEAN SEEDS

Lablab purpureus

Wildly popular ornamental selection of this tropical legume. Dark green foliage has a distinct aubergine hue, and becomes virtually black in autumn. Big violet pink flowers are edible and truly delicious. Makes a fabulous cut flower. Young flat dark purple pods can be blanched and stir-fried. Mature beans require special preparation to make them edible and are not worth the trouble, honestly. Best grown for salad and aesthetics.

Start these seeds indoors in spring, several weeks before the last frost. Requires heat to germinate. Pot up into larger containers as necessary until transplanting into warm garden soil in late spring. Slow growing initially, but will ultimately clamber over a 12 trellis. Thrives in hot wet weather, although they were the most vigorous for me in cool wet summer of 2021. Heat is key to early bloom. Flowers until the first hard freeze. Truly beautiful.

Packet contains at least 10 seeds.