Scarlet Runner pole bean is a vigorous heirloom variety (Phaseolus coccineus) producing long, flat pods typically 6-12 inches long, with rough, green texture when young and crisp, tender flesh inside—pods are edible when immature but become fibrous and tough as they mature. The plant is prized for its brilliant scarlet-red flowers that attract hummingbirds and pollinators, creating a stunning ornamental display on tall vines while also yielding beans. The young pods have a fresh, beany flavor that's good boiled, steamed, sautéed, or eaten raw sparingly (best cooked to improve digestibility and reduce any potential toughness); mature dried beans are large, kidney-shaped, black with maroon mottling, and can be cooked like shell beans or stored for soups and stews. The edible flowers add a mild bean-like taste to salads or garnishes. This variety is a good fit for Utah because it's more cold-tolerant than common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), handling our cooler springs and shorter season better with early transplants or direct sowing, it thrives in hot, dry summers with full sun and well-drained soil, and it provides dual-purpose beauty and edibility—often grown successfully by local gardeners for both ornamental appeal and harvest in our variable climate. Seed packets contain 12 seeds.
