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Climber Wall ShrubConservatory Greenhouse

Lablab purpureus

hyacinth bean

A fast-growing, twining perennial climber with mid- to dark green leaves with three leaflets up to 15cm long. In summer and autumn it produces sprays of fragrant, purple or white pea-like flowers, followed by edible green pods often flushed with purple

Other common names

Australian pea
bonavist
see moredolichos bean
Egyptian kidney bean
jack bean
lablab
lubia bean
seim bean
Egyptian bean
Indian bean

Synonyms

Dolichos 'Lablab'
Dolichos lablab
see moreDolichos purpureus

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Lablab are short-lived, herbaceous, perennial climbers with twining stems, leaves composed of three leaflets and fragrant, pea-like flowers followed by edible pods
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Tropical Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Can be grown as a tender annual outdoors, but needs a long summer to crop well. Alternatively grow under heated glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light, and liquid feed every two weeks until flowering

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 11, in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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