The plant’s bright green leaves have purple-hued veining and are pointed, growing in leaflets of three.
Once the blooms drop, glossy purple pods appear that resemble snow peas.
Purple Hyacinth Bean Care
Purple hyacinth bean climbs bytwining around structuresor other plants.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Use it to add height to a border or grow it up a teepee or trellis.
It will quickly grow and bloom again.
Consult with your nursery to choose the variety best for you.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Soil
Purple hyacinth bean grows best with a fairly neutralsoil pHof 6.0 to 6.8.
Choose a well-drained site for this plant, as its roots will rot in standing water.
A monthly dose of your favorite organic fertilizer, like liquid fish fertilizer, will encourage blooming.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
Choose a fertilizer with a higher phospherous content than nitrogen.
As a member of the legume family, the plant fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Yet, a few named varieties feature subtle differences when compared to the generic seed.
The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy
After a few years, the plant may develop woody stems which may break or look unsightly.
In the early spring, remove any dead or broken stems by cutting them back with pruning shears.
Then, during the summer, trim your plant to your desired shape.
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This will encourage the growth of more lateral stems for a balanced spread.
Continue to monitor its growth and prune the vines as needed throughout the growing season.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Purple hyacinth bean rarely falls victim to insects or pests.
However, it is the host plant for longtail skipper butterflies, and the larva may eat the leaves.
Japanese beetles find the flowers and leaves scrumptious.
An occasional munch from one of these critters usually poses no overall threat to the plant.
Blight, Fusarium wilt, and rust can all affect purple hyacinth bean.
Blight, a bacterial disease, presents as water-soaked spots on the leaves that eventually move onto the stem.
Fusarium wilt, an opportunistic fungal disease, will cause the lower leaves to yellow.
And rust, a fungal parasite, may make the plant look like it’s burnt or scorched.
Prevention tends to be much easier than the eradication of these diseases.
To fix this issue, add a soil amendment that’s high in potassium to encourage flowering.
This plant loves moist soil, yet it needs the sun’s rays to dry it off between waterings.
Purple Hyacinth BeanWhats Old is New.University of Florida Extension.
Purple Hyacinth Bean - What’s Old Is New.
University of Florida Institute of Food And Agricultural Sciences Extension.
