Lablab Bean (Lablab purpureus)

The perennial flowering herb Lablab Bean, also known as Hyacinth bean, is a vigorous vine of showy, rose-purple flower spikes and deep purple-green leaves. The summer blooming Lablab Bean is a highly productive member of the Fabaceae family alongside Lentils, Chickpeas and the Butterfly Pea.  It's native to tropical Africa and cultivated as a food crop throughout the tropics.

With twining shoots of rich foliage and vibrant, edible pods, the Lablab is beloved for its edible as well as its ornamental qualities and can be cut for long-lasting, handsome floral arrangements.

Popularly grown as a vegetable crop, the pods can be cooked and eaten, as can the flowers, leaves and immature (not dry) seeds. The fragrant Lablab grows quickly, especially with a supportive trellis or fence in full sun or part shade. Easy to maintain, the plant takes medium watering and can deal with dry soil and drought. You can use it as a ground cover or a climbing vine and benefit from the flowers you’re destined to cut into endless table arrangements!