Variety comparison

Bean Varieties Compared

Compare bean varieties by growth habit, spacing, maturity timing, and harvest role.

Open ZIP matcher Browse plants
Profiles
16
Zones
3a-11a
Spacing data
16
Return data
16

Quick comparison

Spacing, output, and site fit

Plant Zones Spacing First output Yield Best clue
Hyacinth bean Annual fruit vine 5a-11a 0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows 60-100 days 0.4-1.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 2-10 ft H x 1-3 ft W Scarlet Runner bean Annual vegetable 3a-9a 0.3-1 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-75 days 0.7-1.2 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 6-10 ft H x 1-2 ft W Dragon Tongue bean Annual vegetable 4a-11a 0.2-0.3 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 50-60 days 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 1.5-2.5 ft H x 1-1.5 ft W Red Noodle yardlong bean Annual vegetable 5a-11a 0.3-1 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-75 days 0.7-1.2 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 6-10 ft H x 1-2 ft W Sword bean Annual fruit vine 8a-11a 0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows 60-100 days 0.4-1.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 2-10 ft H x 1-3 ft W Yardlong bean Annual vegetable 5a-11a 0.3-1 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-75 days 0.7-1.2 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 6-10 ft H x 1-2 ft W Adzuki bean Annual vegetable 5a-10b 0.2-0.3 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 50-60 days 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 1.5-2.5 ft H x 1-1.5 ft W Black soybean Annual vegetable 4a-10b 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 75-95 days 0.3-0.7 lb/plant/season Container: 5+ gal (workable); Mature size: 1.5-3 ft H x 1-2 ft W Blue Lake bush bean Annual vegetable 3a-10b 0.2-0.3 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 50-60 days 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 1.5-2.5 ft H x 1-1.5 ft W Fava bean Annual vegetable 3a-10a 0.5-1 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 0 yrs 0.3-0.8 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 2-4 ft H x 1-2 ft W Fordhook 242 lima bean Annual vegetable 5a-11a 0.3-0.7 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-80 days 0.3-0.8 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 1.5-3 ft H x 1-2 ft W Kentucky Wonder pole bean Annual vegetable 3a-10b 0.3-1 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-75 days 0.7-1.2 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 6-10 ft H x 1-2 ft W Mung bean Annual vegetable 5a-11a 0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows 60-100 days 0.4-1.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 2-10 ft H x 1-3 ft W Provider bush bean Annual vegetable 3a-10b 0.2-0.3 ft in-row x 2-3 ft rows 50-60 days 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 1.5-2.5 ft H x 1-1.5 ft W Rattlesnake pole bean Annual vegetable 4a-10b 0.3-1 ft in-row x 3 ft rows 60-75 days 0.7-1.2 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 6-10 ft H x 1-2 ft W Winged bean Annual vegetable 8a-11a 0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows 60-100 days 0.4-1.5 lb/plant/season Container: 2+ gal (good); Mature size: 2-10 ft H x 1-3 ft W

How to choose

How to choose

Bush versus pole habit

Compare the profiles side by side, then use the ZIP matcher for local zone, sun, soil, and water ranking.

Row spacing

Start with the spacing column, then adjust for trellises, pruning, containers, rootstock, or local extension guidance.

Fresh eating, dry beans, or ornament

Compare the profiles side by side, then use the ZIP matcher for local zone, sun, soil, and water ranking.

Profiles

Plant profiles

Annual fruit vine

Hyacinth bean

purple pods and flowers in summer

Vegetables & herbsCurb appeal & colorornamental edible vinepurple pods
Annual vegetable

Scarlet Runner bean

pods and edible flowers all summer

Vegetables & herbsPollinators & wildlifepollinator-friendly climbing beanscarlet flowers
Annual vegetable

Dragon Tongue bean

yellow-purple snap beans in summer

Vegetables & herbsCurb appeal & colorstriking podsdual snap or shell bean
Annual vegetable

Red Noodle yardlong bean

long red pods in summer

Vegetables & herbsCurb appeal & coloryardlong beanheat-loving vine
Annual fruit vine

Sword bean

large pods in long warm seasons

Vegetables & herbsPrivacy & screeningtropical vinelarge pods
Annual vegetable

Yardlong bean

long pods in hot weather

Vegetables & herbsPrivacy & screeningheat-loving climbing beanexcellent summer production
Annual vegetable

Adzuki bean

dry beans in late summer

Vegetables & herbssmall red beanwarm-season crop
Annual vegetable

Black soybean

pods or dry beans in summer

Vegetables & herbsedamame typeblack seed
Annual vegetable

Blue Lake bush bean

tender pods in midsummer

Vegetables & herbsclassic green beanfine flavor and texture
Annual vegetable

Fava bean

green pods or dry beans in cool weather

Vegetables & herbscool-season legumegood shoulder-season crop
Annual vegetable

Fordhook 242 lima bean

large beans in late summer

Vegetables & herbsclassic heat-tolerant bush limareliable yields
Annual vegetable

Kentucky Wonder pole bean

long green pods all summer

Vegetables & herbsclassic pole snap beanold-time flavor
Annual vegetable

Mung bean

pods after hot weather

Vegetables & herbswarm-season beansprout seed crop
Annual vegetable

Provider bush bean

fast summer harvest

Vegetables & herbsearly snap beanreliable germination
Annual vegetable

Rattlesnake pole bean

streaked pods all summer

Vegetables & herbsheat-tolerant pole beandrought resilient
Annual vegetable

Winged bean

pods in long warm seasons

Vegetables & herbstropical legumeedible pods

More comparisons

Apple varieties 22 profiles Pear varieties 22 profiles Plum varieties 20 profiles Squash, pumpkin, and zucchini varieties 18 profiles Cherry varieties 15 profiles Fig varieties 14 profiles Grape varieties 14 profiles Pepper varieties 14 profiles