This herbaceous perennial herb is normally grown as an annual with slender stems that are twinning or it forms a bushy habit. It has broad mid green pointed leaflets and the yellow pea-shaped flowers appear in a raceme in summer followed by edible beans.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Phaseolus lunatusis naturally found from Central to South America with its original origin believed to be in the northern Andes and has been cultivated since 5000 BC.

There are primarily two forms of this plant, pole type which is twining perennial herb that grows from 2-4 m (12 ft) and has an enlarged rootstock that can fix nitrogen and the bushy form that is commonly grown as an annual and attains a high of 1 m (3 ft).

It prefers an open sunny wind protected position in a tropical warm temperate region and grows in well-drained, moist fertile, warm 10ş C. (50ş F)sandy to gravelly soil that has low nitrogen content with a pH range from 6.6 to 7.5. It is drought and frost sensitive and intolerant of wet and cold conditions.

Lima Beans are grown for their edible seeds. It is planted in domestic vegetable gardens or commercial farms where it can have higher yields. It has also grown in pots and tubs and can be trained onto a wire fence or lattice.

It is suitable for inland and low mountain regions and establishes in one season. The slower climbing forms are more productive but in cooler regions the bushy forms are preferred as they produce beans over a shorter period. Plants normally mature in 12-16 weeks and the largest producers are the United States, Madagascar and Peru. ID 1803

Note:
Immature beans (pulses) are canned or frozen and added to bread or noodles to increase the protein content.
Care should be taken as raw or mature seeds are poisonous as they contain hydrocyanic which can be destroyed by thoroughly cooking or boiled.

Phaseolus(fa-as-ee-O-lus) lunatus(loo-NAY-tus)

Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)