Seven Years Madagascar Bean SEEDS – Heirloom & Untreated – Phaseolus lunatus – Perennial Protein Powerhouse
Discover the magic of the Seven Years Madagascar Bean (Phaseolus lunatus) – a truly remarkable perennial legume that keeps on giving, year after year. Also known as the Seven-Year Lima, Painted Lady, or Tropical Lima, this vigorous climbing bean is a staple in tropical and subtropical food forests for good reason.
Originating from Central America and now beloved in gardens worldwide, this bean earns its name from its incredible ability to remain productive for several years without the need for replanting. In warm climates, it acts as a perennial, producing abundant harvests of large, beautiful beans season after season. In cooler areas with frost, the vine will die back in winter but happily reshoot when temperatures rise again, coming back stronger and more productive each year.
The Seven Years Madagascar Bean is a vigorously climbing vine that quickly develops into a thick, lush mat. It is fast-growing, hardy, low-maintenance, and adaptable to various soil types. Beyond providing food, it is an exceptional nitrogen-fixing plant that enriches your soil, smothers weeds, and produces abundant organic matter – making it a true multi-purpose workhorse for any permaculture garden.
Uses:
Edible Beans: This bean is incredibly versatile. When harvested very young, while the beans are still entirely white and have not developed any speckles, they can be eaten fresh, peeled and eaten raw like broad beans, or lightly steamed. For mature, dried beans (which develop beautiful red and white speckles), they must be soaked and cooked thoroughly. They have a creamy texture and are a delicious protein addition to soups, stews, casseroles, curries, salads, veggie patties, and dips.
Tempeh: The dried beans can also be used to make homemade tempeh.
Young Pods & Leaves: The very young pods can be steamed but can be fibrous. The youngest leaves are also edible but are bitter and must be cooked.
Animal Forage: The lush foliage can be trimmed and fed to animals as nutritious forage.
Green Manure & Cover Crop: Its vigorous growth smothers weeds and provides excellent green manure when chopped and dropped, adding nitrogen to the soil.
Living Screen & Shade: The dense vine creates a beautiful living screen and provides welcome summer shade.
Ornamental: The striking speckled beans and vigorous green foliage are attractive and add visual interest to any garden.
Nutrients & Health Benefits:
The Seven Years Madagascar Bean is a nutritional powerhouse, providing abundant plant-based protein and essential nutrients.
High in Protein: An excellent source of plant-based protein, making it a valuable addition to vegetarian and vegan diets.
Rich in Fibre: Supports healthy digestion and promotes a feeling of fullness.
Abundant Organic Matter: Beyond its nutritional value for humans, this bean is a champion for soil health, producing masses of organic matter that feed soil life and improve fertility.
⚠️ Important Safety Note:
Preparation is critical and depends entirely on the bean’s maturity:
Young, Fresh Beans (entirely white, no speckles): Can be eaten fresh, raw, or lightly steamed.
Mature, Dried Beans (with speckles): Must never be eaten raw. They contain naturally occurring toxins (cyanogenic glycosides). Always soak dried beans for 4–6 hours, then boil for at least 1.5 hours and discard the cooking water before eating.
Young pods and leaves: Must be cooked thoroughly before eating.
Do your own research before trying any new foods. Also refer to our full disclaimer in the footer of this page.
Growing & Sowing Tips:
Seven Years Madagascar Bean is remarkably easy to grow and thrives in warm conditions. Follow these steps for success:
Direct sowing (essential): This bean does not like transplanting, so sow seeds directly into the prepared soil.
Timing: Plant in spring after the last frost, when soil temperatures are warm. Cold temperatures can hinder germination.
Depth & spacing: Sow seeds about 3–6 cm deep and space them about 60 cm apart.
Sun & position: Prefers a warm, sunny position. It thrives in hot, humid climates and is fairly drought‑resistant once established.
Soil: Tolerates a wide variety of soil types but prefers light, well‑drained soil with a pH of 6–7.
Support: As a vigorous climber, provide a strong trellis, fence, or arbour for the vine to climb. It can also be planted in mounds or broadcast to create a thick ground cover.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment. Once established, it is fairly drought‑resistant.
Pruning: Prune the vine back before the wet season to encourage a healthy flush of new growth.
Climate: Thrives as a perennial in tropical and subtropical regions. In cooler areas with frost, it will die back in winter but reshoot in spring.
Flowering & Harvest: Flowering begins 60–90 days after sowing. Pods are produced continually throughout the plant’s life, providing multiple harvests. Dry beans are ready for picking after 7–9 months. Young beans can be harvested earlier.
Seed Details:
Price: For 3 seeds, naturally grown in my permaculture food forest in Pacific Haven, QLD Australia.
Quality: Heirloom, untreated, open‑pollinated.
Shipping & Important Notes:
Shipping locations: Sending within Australia only, excluding Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS, and WA.
Pickup: Available by appointment from Pacific Haven, QLD.
