Lablab bean (Hyacinth bean)

Lablab purpureus

Vigorous tropical climbing legume with ornamental purple flowers and pods. Fast-growing summer cover crop and a vegetable in many cuisines, but raw beans are toxic.

Hardiness ratings

Lablab bean (Hyacinth bean) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–12 −40 °C to 15.6 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −34 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–7 −15 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating

As a tender annual, Lablab bean (Hyacinth bean) doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.

Growing notes

  • Raw beans are toxic — must be cooked thoroughly with water changes before eating
  • Ornamental purple flowers and bicolour pods make it a common edible-ornamental for trellises
  • Frost-tender — sow in warm soil after last frost

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Lablab bean (Hyacinth bean) against your zones

Reference

Lablab bean (Hyacinth bean) on Wikipedia