Dolichos lablab Seeds - Hyacinth Beans

The Dolichos lablab with green foliage, also known as Lablab purpureus or hyacinth bean, is an African climbing vegetable plant that is highly ornamental, edible, and resembles a climbing bean. In gardens, it is cultivated as an annual plant due to its rapid growth and fruiting. Its attractive bean-like foliage, beautiful clusters of fragrant pink and lilac pea flowers in summer, followed by shiny purple pods that are highly decorative, are the main features of this lovely plant. Hyacinth beans are perfect for quickly covering small wire fences, arches, trellises, or hiding unsightly views. They are low-maintenance and undemanding plants, very easy to grow in sunny, warm, and sheltered locations.

The Dolichos lablab, also known as the Indian bean, is a tender perennial climbing plant belonging to the bean family, Fabaceae. It is believed to originate from Central Africa, but it has been cultivated for a long time, particularly in East Africa and Asia as a vegetable plant and a source of fodder for livestock. In Europe, gardeners are mainly interested in its ornamental qualities. It is usually grown as an annual plant in open ground or in pots, although it is able to survive short frosts of around -7°C under a thick protective mulch. This small vine can tolerate any well-drained, sufficiently deep soil, even if it is chalky and poor.

The plant develops an extensive root system that can penetrate deep into the soil to access moisture. Its voluble stems can reach up to 5 metres in a single season. They naturally wrap around the support provided (stakes, wire mesh, trellis, shrubs). The stems bear large leaves divided into 3 strongly veined leaflets. The upper surface of the leaf blade is dark green, slightly veined with purple. Flowering begins approximately 5–6 weeks after sowing, as soon as the temperature exceeds 20°C, and lasts for almost 4 months. Numerous slender clusters of bicoloured pea-like flowers, pale pink and white, appear from July to September in the leaf axils. This pleasantly fragrant flowering attracts many insects and butterflies. The flowers are followed by short, wide, shiny purple pods. Inside, there are small dark seeds that can be harvested for sowing in the following spring.

The hyacinth bean is an original and ornamental plant that will find its place in ornamental gardens, as well as in pots to decorate terraces or balconies, or even alongside vegetables in the vegetable garden of a curious gardener. Its ornamental uses are similar to those of sweet peas, Spanish beans, and morning glories, which it complements well: let these annuals climb up a tall teepee, a wire fence, a small hut, or a trellis on a wall. While it has low water and nutrient requirements, the Lablab needs fairly long and hot summers to ripen its seeds.

In the kitchen:

Its foliage can be cooked and prepared like spinach. Its flowers can decorate salads and can also be cooked and added to stews. The pods should be harvested when very young (before they become fibrous) and can be prepared like green beans. The cooked or dried seeds can be ground into flour or paste for making fritters and cakes. As a precaution, it is highly recommended to cook them in two successive waters. Like beans, they can be harvested fresh, semi-dry, or dry. The hyacinth bean has interesting nutritional qualities due to its folate, magnesium, and potassium content.