Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco'

RHS Plant Profile

bean (climbing French) 'Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco'

Synonyms

Phaseolus vulgaris 'Firetongue'

Annual Biennial Climber Wall Shrub Fruit Edible

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

An annual climbing borlotti bean with green leaves. White flowers develop into fat pods which are mottled green ripening to dark pink. and the seed-beans inside are mottled yellow-brown, cream and dark red. The pods can be eaten whole when young, or left to mature the seed-beans inside

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Raw pods/beans harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Raw pods/beans harmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Phaseolus are annual or perennial legumes, usually climbing or trailing in form, and with trifoliate leaves. Grown as crop plants for their edible seeds, including runner, French and lima beans, as well as for animal feed, green manures and as ornamentals
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow up support in any fertile, moisture-retentive soil in good light. For more advice see beans for drying and French bean cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Climber and wall shrubs
Edible fruit

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, and to blackfly (black aphid)

Diseases

May be susceptible to runner and french bean rust