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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
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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