Origin: Central and South America
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Phaseolus
Includes: Bush beans, pole beans, filet beans or haricots vert or dried or shelling beans.
History: One of the earliest cultivated plants, garden beans can trace their beginnings to Central and South America. Vining or climbing beans were an original member of the “Three-Sisters”, a companion planting of the first domesticated crops of maize, winter squash, and climbing beans. These became the three main agricultural crops used for trade and food for Native North Americans.
Other Names: The string bean! Green beans were once referred to as string beans due to the long fibrous threat along the pod seams. The first stringless green bean wasn’t developed until 1894 by Calvin Keeney.
Desirable Breeding Traits: Stringless, dark green succulent pods, good bean flavor, concentrated fruit set, stress tolerance and disease resistance.
Popular Garden Bean Varieties:
- Pole Beans: Seychelles or Kentucky Blue
- Bush Beans: Mascotte or Desperado
- Specialty Beans: Roma II, Amethyst Purple or Gold Rush
Did You Know?: Wisconsin is the largest U.S. state producer of snap green beans — 300,000 tons!
Breeders: Garden Trends, Hoss, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Osborne Quality Seeds, Harris Seeds, Urban Farmer, Territorial Seed Company, Jung Seed, True Leaf Market, West Coast Seeds, Bonnie Plants, Willhite Seed Inc., Earl May, Burpee, Gardener’s Supply Company, Botanical Interests, A.P. Whaley Seed Company, Gurney’s Seed & Nursey Co., Park Seed, Puretree
Source: National Garden Bureau
