Bean 'Painted Lady'
Ornamental white and salmon flowers are produced in abundance, followed by long succulent beans. Runner beans, also known as seven year beans, are perennial meaning they grow and produce beans throughout summer and autumn then go dormant in winter before emerging again the following spring.
Runner beans are also known as seven year beans as they die back in autumn to re-emerge the next spring. Preferring cool climates, runner beans will not set pods when temperatures soar over 30 degrees and are best planted in the shade in warmer districts. These beans need cross pollination, so plant them with bee attracting plants such as lavender, borage and thyme. They crop heavily in late summer and autumn. All runner beans are climbers, so they will need some form of support.