| Description | A plant used as a food source in many parts of the world but also grown as an ornamental. The bright purple bean pods are the best ornamental feature. A tender perennial grown as an annual. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (DO-li-kos) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Perennial Tender |
| Hardiness Zone | 10b-11 |
| Sunlight | full sun |
| Moisture | average, draught tolerant when established |
| Soil & Site | average, tolerant |
| Growing Media | average patio |
| Temperature | frost sensitive |
| Flowers | pea-like, purple, found on loose clusters on long stems extending above the foliage. There are short day and long day cultivars available. A short lived perennial in warmer regions. |
| Fruit | flat bean pods are a bright purple, seeds are dark brown, 4-6 per pod with white helium, giving off a strong bean odor when cooked |
| Leaves | triangular to broad ovate, purple green leaves. |
| Stems | twinning stem |
| Dimensions | In warmer regions up to 30 feet. As an ornamental annual around 10. |
| Maintenance | needs support |
| Propagation | seeds, best started in a rootable container |
| Native Site | Asia, Africa |
| Misc Facts | Almost all parts of the plant are edible. The dried seeds are toxic and should be well cooked in two changes of water. The young leaves along with the flowers can be eaten in salad; the older leaves can be cooked. The tuber should be boiled. (syn. Lablab purpureus) |
| Notes & Reference | #62-Manual of Climbers and Wall Plants (J K Burras, Mark Griffiths), #27-Rodale's Annual Gardens (Paul Loewer) |
Cart
