Madagascar Bean (aka seven year bean)

Phaseolus lunatus syn. P.limensis

Origin: Tropical and sub-Tropical regions

Plant: in Spring

Harvest: When pods have dried on vine

The Madagascar bean is a perennial vine perfectly suited to Brisbane growing conditions. Best planted in Spring, this vigorous vine will last for up to 7 years (thus the common name 7-year bean).

This variety of tropical lima bean produces large (3-4 inch long and 1 inch wide) fat pods almost year-round in our climate but it is the beans, NOT the pods) that are edible (after cooking). Beans are ready for harvest once the pods dry on the vine. The pods are discarded, and the attractive purple and white speckled beans are then dried for later cooking in soups and stews. The beans should be soaked overnight prior to cooking.

This vigorous climber requires a sturdy trellis (that will last a long time, as the vine is a perennial), though they will happily ramble over bushes and up trees.

Madagascar bean shown on the left. Malabar spinach shown on the right.

An excellent and highly productive addition to any subtropical food forest. It is also very low maintenance and tolerates a wide range of soil types, is a nitrogen fixer and will even pod well in semi shade. In rich soil, the vine is one of the lowest water use plants in the edible garden.