Alphabetical Plant Listing

Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean)

Baybean, Seaside Jackbean, Coastal Jackbean, Beachbean, Mackenzie Bean, Canavalia lineata, Canavalia maritima


Noted for its showy flowers and bright green foliage, Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean) is a creeping evergreen vine boasting small racemes of pink to purple flowers with white centers that guide insects to their nectar. The blossoms attract a variety of insects but are primarily pollinated by bees. Blooming year-round, with a peak in summer to fall, the flowers give way to robust, long, flattened pods, 4-6 in. long (10-15 cm), containing seeds that are adapted for dispersal on ocean currents. The thick and fleshy trailing stems are covered with bright green trifoliate leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), that are alternately arranged. Thick and leathery, they fold in on themselves in response to hot sunlight. One of the most widely distributed beach plants in the world, Bay Bean can be found in subtropical and tropical areas worldwide, including the West Indies, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It occurs naturally in coastal habitats, especially dunes and beaches where it is an important sand stabilizer and colonizer. Fast-growing and mat-forming, Bay Bean resists erosion by wind and light surf and is excellent for beachfront homes and coastal landscapes. It makes a great ground cover along coastal dunes and in other dry areas where it is allowed to roam freely.

  • Grows up to 6-12 in. tall (15-30 cm) and 10-40 ft. wide (3-12 m). Will quickly spread to form a mat without being invasive.
  • Thrives in full sun in moderately moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils. Drought tolerant, Bay Bean can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation too.
  • No serious pest or disease issues.
  • Propagate by seeds. Soak in water for several hours to speed up germination.
  • Native to subtropical and tropical areas worldwide, including the West Indies, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
  • Seeds and seed pods are poisonous if consumed.

Buy Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean)

Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Plant Type Climbers, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spread 10' – 40' (3m – 12m)
Spacing 24" – 36" (60cm – 90cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants Australia, United States, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Ground Covers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden

Buy Plants


BlueSnap, Shutterstock, Bernard Dupont, Bob Peterson, Flickr

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Plant Type Climbers, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spread 10' – 40' (3m – 12m)
Spacing 24" – 36" (60cm – 90cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants Australia, United States, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Ground Covers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden

Plant Calculator

How many Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Canavalia rosea (Bay Bean)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.