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Monday, August 19, 2013

Purple Hyacinth Bean

This is a new vine for me. It is almost perfect. Starting with the purplish- burgundy stems...the almost heart shaped leaf (I love anything with a heart shaped leaf) that is bright green veined with purplish-burgundy, the sweet pea like flowers that are surprisingly fragrant, the tendrils that grab hold, and lastly the purplish-burgundy...leather like seed pods. This is a delicate vine, I would say....not robust like it's neighbor the Sweet Autumn Clematis. I love the way it looks on my trellis as a backdrop for my containers of herbs. 
After the danger of frost, I planted 10 seeds from Renee's Garden...five in the back of each pot. They all germinated.A little slow to start climbing...I put some string between the containers and the trellis to give it a start. I guess I should have just been patient...as the vine took off on it's own...in it's own time. No pests have bothered it...a very forgiving vine from little water occasionally...when I forget. 
The beans can be saved when the pods dry out. I've read pros and cons about eating them...some say they are poisonous when they are in certain stages. I won't fool around with that. I can see the pods in wreaths and dried flower arrangements. I think that I will just save the seeds and plant them again next year. 
This was a wonderful first time for this vine. Next year (the ever looking forward gardener) I'm going to try the Cardinal Vine. After seeing it at Betty's garden, I think I have to have it.
I have always been intrigued by vines. I have so many here...clematis (several kinds) passion flower, several ivy plants, and Joe just mentioned that he wanted some Morning Glories...oh Lord...I need more trellises.
Balisha


PS...I came back to show the whole trellis where I have these planted. This was taken a little while back...the vines are more filled in now. You really can't make out the vines with the grassy background, but I thought you would get the idea.

16 comments:

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

I have had this at 3 homes and this year seeds did not come up :(
Going back to the one who shared with me and get some seeds for next year. It is so showy...

acorn hollow said...

I have never heard of that vine I just love it.
Cathy

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Looking good. I love this vine too.
Regarding the cardinal vine, start it early and transplant to your garden if you can after frost. It is much slower to bloom.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

That is a pretty and interesting plant. I, too, love plants with heart shaped leaves. Something has come up in my surprise flower seed bed that has heart shaped leaves, but I don't know what it is. I am waiting for it to bloom.

I planted blue morning glory seeds three different times this year. Once they came up and then withered, twice they never even came up. Last year the blue morning glories struggled and barely bloomed, but the year before that, they were beautiful. I find the big blue morning glories to be iffy at my house. But that won't stop me from trying again next spring! Heart shaped leaves and blue flowers!

Blondie's Journal said...

I've heard of this vine, Balisha, and it was great to get to see it. I actually have 4 bare trellis's, I never seem to plan ahead and get seeds. I love Renee's garden, too. I'll have to check out her seeds for vines next spring. You may have to remind me! ;-D

XO,
Jane

Aaron said...

I do hope to grow this plant someday.

Did you happen to notice any hummingbirds or butterflies visiting the flowers? The vine is supposed to attract them, but I know that sometimes reality does not match marketing copy! ;)

Judy said...

Wish I had a trellis--where can I get a trellis-=-where would I put a trellis if I got one? I love this vine!!! AHA--maybe in a big pot, with a trellis in the pot? Hey--I think you just gave me a very good idea--per usual.

Stacey said...

So pretty! I'm still waiting on mine to bloom. We planted the seeds kind of late so we are behind but the vines are gorgeous.

Margie's Musings said...

Balisha, your flower beds are just lovely! You are so ambitious!

CYNTHIA CRANE said...

One of my personal faves, the hyacinth bean vine! Lovely photo and great info here - thank you! I just moved into a new home and that was the ONE vine I sought out seeds for this past spring. It just keeps on giving and giving doesn't it?!!!

Balisha said...

I can see from the comments that there are many people interested in this vine. It isn't hardy in zone 5, so I'll have to plant seeds next year. I have them planted in two large containers along with herbs. The trellis is behind them. You could put a trellis right in the pot if the pot is deep enough to hold it upright. The spot where they are growing is somewhat shady...especially in the afternoon. I've seen many, many bees around these blooms and also some gold finches. I don't know if the bean vines are attracting the gold finches or the herbs. We have lots of hummingbirds and 4 feeders front and back. They do go to these purple flowers, but because we have honeysuckle in the woods (not far away) they tend to hang out back there. Once in a while, I will see them flitting in and out of the vines on their way to the deck feeders.
I have a little secret hiding place by these two containers and can sit in the shade a be unnoticed until the birds are almost on top of me. Fun to see their quick response to a human.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Balisha

Diana LaMarre said...

Hi Balisha,
Your vine looks nice. I tried to grow it last year and it was a super big DUD in my garden. I had only one scrawny vine growing up my arbor. Maybe I should try again and plant it in containers as you did.

Aaron said...

Thanks for the update, Balisha.

Happy to know this fine provides benefits for the birds and the bees!! :)

CraveCute said...

I've grown those a time or two. The flower color is amazing!

Patty Antle said...

Vines are great. I especially love clematis and your purple is very nice too.

debra @ HOMESPUN said...

pretty and I had never heard of this one! :)