Scarlet runner bean
Phaseolus coccineus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing bean. It is a robust plant and keeps growing from year to year by re-growing from the fattened root. The stems are often hairy. It grows 1.8-2.4 m high. It can spread 1.8-2.4 m wide. It twines around a trellis. The leaves are compound and have three leaflets. The flowers are bright red. They are in clusters 2.5 cm long. The pods are long (30 cm) and with a wavy edge. The seeds are large and can be several different colours. It sometimes has a root tuber.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the mountain regions from Mexico to Panama. It is grown in the highlands in the tropics. On the tropical coast seedlings die and pods are not formed. It is damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Britain, Canada, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, SE Asia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The very young pods can be eaten. They are boiled, steamed, baked etc. The seeds are edible. They are dried then soaked. The flowers have a bean like flavour and are used in salads. Young leaves can be used as a potherb. The tubers can be eaten after they are cooked and the cooking water thrown away.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Only occasionally grown in Papua New Guinea. The fleshy roots are an important food in Mexico. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, leaves, roots, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from seeds. Seed are planted 2.5 cm deep. Plants are spaced 20 cm apart. It needs sticks to climb up. It can be allowed to re-grow from the tubers or the tubers re-planted.

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Ayacote, Botil, Chamborote, Chilipuca, Climat, Cub, Cubaces, Dau son, Dutch caseknipe bean, Ejote, Fagioli rampicante di Spagna, Frejol de castilla, Frejol de monte, Frijol chamborote, Hana mame, Haricot d'Espagne, Kacang besar, Koto moruk, Laški fižol, Patol, Poroto chileno, Seven year bean, Shim

Synonyms

Phaseolus multiflorus Willd.; Phaseolus coccineus var. zongolicensis Freytag, nom. inval.; Phaseolus multiflorus Lam.;