Scarlet Runner Bean
Historic Variety
- Scarlet blossoms
- Beans mature to black and speckled mauve
- Used for ornamental purposes or as small snap pods or green shell beans
- Pole bean
- 65 days
- ±450 seeds/lb
Item Details
One of the oldest runner beans in existence. Already well-known in 1735 according to The Gardener’s Dictionary by English botanist Philip Miller; listed in America as early as 1806 by McMahon. Used for ornamental purposes or as a vegetable: small snap pods or green shell beans. Can substitute for limas in cooler climates. Pole habit, 65 days. ±450 seeds/lb.
Learn to Grow Scarlet 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
Beautiful, productive, and easy
by Northern MN
Wow, vigorous bean plants! Grew 6 feet tall and probably would have reached 10 feet had my trellis been that high. Flowered all summer long. The bees and hummingbirds loved them. Had no bug, disease, or mold problems. Plants get very heavy so use a strong, tall trellis. Will plant again next year.
Mid Minnesota Gardener
by Mid Minnesota Gardener
Planted these mid May and they grew very vigorously - lots of blossoms. They were beautiful! VERY slow to set fruit. Had blossoms all summer. Pollination was not the issue as we have honey bees. Did not set any fruit until late August and into September! Would grow these again for the flowers - don't count on getting lots of beans.
Beautiful flowers
by Zach
I grow these as an added ornamental on the same trellis/ladder as my winter squash. Since they are a bean, they also likely have some benefit as a nitrogen fixer and companion plant to my squash.
Don't produce.
by Karen Simonetti
Bought several packs of these and they never produced any beans or flowers.
Love these
by Taylor
Hummingbirds and bees love these guys. Worth planting just for that. If you have a bee garden, these produce abundant flowers and fill any brief gaps in other flowers. They do start to produce fruit later. They flower throughout the season, however. I'm thinking the nights getting longer triggers them to fruit. They usually make it to mature fruit despite the late start, though. Great looking dry bean.
The Bean That Just Keeps Growing
by Minnesota Gardener
These beans are fantastic. They ALL sprouted & grew & grew & grew. They went up my 6 foot bean trellis & just kept going. Have at least a 10 foot trellis for these beauties. Lots of flowers & beans on every plant. After saving my own seeds from these, I'm looking forward to planting a LOT more next year!