Perennials > Dolichos > Dolichos lablab > Dolichos lablab
Dolichos lablab
Bonavist, Dolichos bean, Egyptian bean, Hyacinth bean, Lubia bean, Seim bean, Indian bean
Origin: Tropical Africa, and widely cultivated in India, South-East Asia, Egypt, and Sudan.
| Family |
| Papilionaceae |
| Genus |
| Dolichos |
| Species |
| lablab |
| Category |
| Perennials |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -7 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 20 - 30 |
| Height |
| 6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A fast-growing, short-lived climber that is grown for its edible pods and seeds. |
| Landscape |
| Cultivated as a vegetable, but also has great value as an ornamental plant. |
| Cultivation |
| Prefers a well-drained soil with a high organic content and a pH of 5.5-6.0. A stake or other support is recommended. Harvest 70-120 days after sowing, storing in a cool area at 90% humidity, or preserve by salting. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Stems are usually twining. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are trifoliate, with leaflets growing to 15 x 15 cm. |
| Flower Description |
| Inflorescence to 40 cm, with white or purple flowers in clusters of 5. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit is sweet, growing to 15 x 5 cm, with 3-6 rounded, slightly flattened seeds. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Propagate by seed in early spring. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Pods and seeds are edible. |
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