Christmas Bean / Giant Calico Bean (Phaseolus lunatis)
This beautiful and delicious lima bean is a popular heirloom variety in the American South. The variety dates back to the mid 1800's and it's certainly one of the most stunning lima varieties.
A great bean variety in hot and humid conditions, the Christmas Bean grows on long vines up to 10 ft so it's important to provide them with a trellis. The vines bloom with lovely yellow flowers before setting pods. Also known as Large Speckled Lima or Giant Calico, Christmas Beans produce heavy yields of quarter-sized, white lima beans splashed with maroon swirls and speckles.
While the beans are undoubtedly stunning in appearance, they are also one of the tastiest varieties of lima bean that we've ever grown. The beans retain their beautiful markings even after cooking and the flavor is chestnut-like, creamy and has a potato-like texture.
The pods generally produce three beans and are ready to harvest about 90 days after sowing.
Origin: The parent seed of our Christmas bean came from our friend in James Island, SC who is the original source of our Geechee White Okra and our Lowcountry Black-eyed peas. She is part of the Geechee community in SC and recalls growing these beans with her great-grandmother.
(Approximately 25 seeds per packet)
Germination rate: All of our seeds exceed 70% germination and are tested every 6 months.
Planting Instructions: Sow 1 seed 1" deep every 4" in full sun after your last frost. The vines grow up to 10ft. so be sure to provide a trellis for them to climb.
