Vegetable
Phaseolus coccineus
S tier
Phaseolus coccineus is the runner bean—perennial-rooted climber grown as annual for long flat pods, scarlet or white flowers, and sometimes dried beans. Pods are meatier and more fibrous than French beans if overmature; young pods are tender and grassy-beany. British gardens adore them. Slice pods, boil or steam, serve with butter. Species covers scarlet and white-flowered runners. Flowers are edible garnish.
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Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Chill SaladDried Bean StewEdible FlowerSlice Boil ButterSteam
Traits
British Summer ClassicClimbingFlat PodLong Flat PodMeaty YoungScarlet Flower TypesSpecies PrimarySpecies Umbrella
History
MX
Mesoamerican peoples domesticated P. coccineus for beans and pods.
GB
Runner beans entered British gardens first as ornamentals then as food.
GB
Sliced runner beans became a classic British summer vegetable.
Show gardens still competed over giant runner bean lengths.