Kennedia nigricans
black bean
K. nigricans is a vigorous twining climber with trifoliate, dark green leaves and axillary racemes of blackish-purple pea-like flowers 3cm across, marked yellow on the standard petal, in late winter and spring
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Black Purple Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Black Purple Yellow |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Climbing
- Genus
Kennedia can be herbaceous or woody, twining climbers with trifoliate leaves and pea-like flowers which may be solitary, in pairs, umbels or racemes in the leaf axils
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- W Australia
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow outdoors in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade in a frost-free area with shelter from cold drying winds. Will grow well in poor sandy soil. Grow under glass in loam-based compost with added sharp sand in bright filtered light
Propagation
Propagate by seed
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Low Maintenance
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly under glass
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.