Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Lablab purpureus (Hyacinth bean)
1 hour care
per year
per year
6m
Max height
Max height
2m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Lablab purpureus
Other names
Hyacinth bean, Lablab, Australian pea, Bonavist, Dolichos bean, Egyptian bean, Egyptian kidney bean, Indian bean, Jack bean, Lubia bean, Seim bean, Dolichos lablab, Dolichos purpureus
Genus
Lablab Lablab
Species
L. purpureus - L. purpureus is a vigorous yet tender, twining, deciduous climber, often grown as an annual, with palmate leaves divided into ovate or triangular, mid- to dark green leaves and short racemes of fragrant, pea-like, purple or white flowers in summer and autumn followed by edible, green seed pods.
Lablab purpureus is: Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
Toxicity
Harmful if eaten.
Flower
White, Purple in Summer; White, Purple in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Whitefly , Scale insects , Glasshouse red spider mite Whitefly , Scale insects , Glasshouse red spider mite
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 11 in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Lablab purpureus (Hyacinth bean) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 2m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water freely & feed every 2 weeks until flowering. In frost-free areas or in summer, grow in any well-drained soil in sun. Alternatively, grow in a container and overwinter indoors.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Lablab purpureus
Other names
Hyacinth bean, Lablab, Australian pea, Bonavist, Dolichos bean, Egyptian bean, Egyptian kidney bean, Indian bean, Jack bean, Lubia bean, Seim bean, Dolichos lablab, Dolichos purpureus
Genus
Lablab Lablab
Species
L. purpureus - L. purpureus is a vigorous yet tender, twining, deciduous climber, often grown as an annual, with palmate leaves divided into ovate or triangular, mid- to dark green leaves and short racemes of fragrant, pea-like, purple or white flowers in summer and autumn followed by edible, green seed pods.
Native to
Africa
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
Toxicity
Harmful if eaten.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White, Purple in Summer; White, Purple in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Whitefly , Scale insects , Glasshouse red spider mite
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 11 in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Lablab purpureus (Hyacinth bean) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 2m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water freely & feed every 2 weeks until flowering. In frost-free areas or in summer, grow in any well-drained soil in sun. Alternatively, grow in a container and overwinter indoors.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login