Vigorous red, aka scarlet runner bean plants twine into showy full-leafed 10 to12 foot vines as quickly as Jack’s beanstalks. They are soon covered with sprays of brilliant scarlet blossoms that attract hungry hummingbirds. Flowers are followed by wide, meaty edible pods. Left on the vines, the fat pods swell with fascinating big black and purple swirled “magic beans” to treasure (or cook up), or save and plant for another summer’s fairy tale garden.

Plant 1 “ deep, 3-4” apart in the full sun from April to June.

They grow quickly and require support from either a teepee, or a fence.

This is an annual vine.

I plant the beans every year at River’s Edge Farm for the hummingbird’s because they love them and I love hummingbirds!

The red runner beans were harvested from River’s Edge Farm, a climate resilient, carbon neutral, zero waste, pollinator supporting regenerative organic mini farm in the Hudson Valley, in upstate New York. More information available on its page on Instagram