Scientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Common Name: common bean, black bean, kidney bean, pinto bean, French bean
Family Name: Fabaceae
Origin: Central America, South America
Hardiness Zone: Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Plant Type: Annual, Vine or climber
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 2 - 3m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading
Form: Creeping / Mat-like, Irregular
Texture: Medium - coarse
Landscape Uses: Urban agriculture
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media:
Leaves: Compound, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Trifoliate (ternate), Ovate, Entire
Flowers: Raceme, White, Orange, Violet, Purple, Pink, Jun-Jul-Aug
Fruit: Legume, Green, Aug-Sep
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate with three oval, leaflets with entire margins, 6-15cm long; flowers white, pink, or purple, about 1cm long; legumes green, yellow, black, or purple, 8-20cm long x 1-1.5cm wide, each containing 4-6 kidney-shaped beans up to 1.5cm long.