Painted Lady Improved Runner Bean
- Bi-colored blossoms attract hummingbirds
- Beans are black and speckled with tan edges
- Esteemed as both an ornamental and edible climber
- Tolerates heat
- Pole bean
- 68 days
- ±450 seeds/lb
Item Details
(aka Bicolor Runner, Painted Runner) Friar Antonio de Arrabida described this species in Flora of Rio de Janeiro in 1827. Incredibly beautiful bi-colored blossoms are very attractive to hummingbird moths. This strain is less affected by warmer temperatures than other runner beans and is a prolific bloomer. Esteemed as both an ornamental and edible climber. Pole habit, 68 days. ±450 seeds/lb.
Learn to Grow Painted Lady Improved Runner Bean
Direct Seed: 2" Apart
Seed Depth: 1"
Rows Apart: 24-36"
Support: Trellis, tepee, or netting
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Runner beans prefer full sun, although they tolerate part shade very well. Young pods can be eaten whole, or the beans can be eaten fresh or dried. Even the flowers are edible.
Ratings & Reviews
6 reviews
Hummingbirds love this.
by Scott
Great producer! Huge beans!
Beautiful & tasty!
by Dee
One of my favorite beans! The bonus is the beautiful flowers that attract bumble bees & humming birds. Vigorous vines require support.
The only negative is that they don't like the heat, the flowers tend to fall off during the hottest parts of summer, but they take off again like crazy once it cools off.
My first ever hummingbird
by Twyla Hughes
I have never seen a hummingbird in my yard until this year after these started blooming.
Beautiful Blooms No Beans For Us
by CatCharmer
These were beautiful and continue to keep blooming, however, we haven't had a single bean. Not sure why because they seem to be thriving. If they had produced beans I would give 5 stars. We will plant again next year though because they are lovely either way.
Seed Savers’ Exchange Response:
We are glad you enjoyed the beautiful flowers of this variety. Please reach out to our customer service team to discuss possible reasons your vines didn't set any fruit. Your local extension office or Master Gardeners are also a good source for growing tips.
all hat, no cattle
by BILL
Planted 20 feet of this bean. Beautiful blooms which bloomed profusely into October. Never did set beans. I got 8 beans from 4 pods. Loved the blooms, which attracted bees, but disappointed in the lack of beans.
Full sun and bushel baskets!!
by Connie
Over a decade, year-to-year, in replanting the previous year harvested beans of the Painted Lady!! Mid to late summer and early autumn to a frost the bushel basket is full, smiles, to another full bushel basket at the end of harvest. Bean size average is 1/2" inch width - 3/4" length and green bean length, averages 7 1/2" inches plus. And by-the-way to note, Painted Lady attracts the hummingbird moth!!