VegetableBean
Golden Wax Bean
Bush Bean
Golden Wax Bean is a bright yellow snap bean that delivers both productivity and buttery flavor in a compact, upright plant. This open-pollinated heirloom thrives in zones 3-11, reaching just 12-24 inches tall, and produces harvestable pods in 50-59 days. With rich golden color and exceptional yield, it's equally at home in garden beds, raised plots, containers, or greenhouses, making it one of the most flexible beans for home gardeners seeking reliable harvests.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
—
Width
4 in
Spacing
50–59
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The buttery flavor and luminous golden color are the real draw here. Unlike green beans, these yellow pods have a silky texture and naturally sweet taste that shines whether you steam them fresh or preserve them for winter. Golden Wax Bush Bean produces abundantly on compact plants, so even gardeners with limited space can fill baskets of pods within two months of planting. Its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed year after year, deepening the connection between you and this plant.
Common Uses
Golden Wax Beans shine as a fresh vegetable, steamed or sautéed until tender-crisp, where their buttery flavor needs little embellishment beyond butter and salt. They're equally valued for preservation, pickling beautifully to create tangy accompaniments through the winter months. The tender young pods can be eaten whole, while mature beans can be dried and cooked as shell beans for soups and stews.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Golden Wax Bean seeds into the garden once soil temperature reaches 60-75°F and frost danger has passed. Plant seeds 4 inches apart in rows spaced 24 inches wide. They germinate quickly in warm soil and establish best when sown directly rather than transplanted.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when pods reach tender, snap-stage maturity at 50-59 days, before they become tough and stringy. Pick pods while they're still bright yellow and pliable; if they bend and snap cleanly, they're at peak flavor and texture. Harvest regularly by pinching pods from the stem to encourage continued production. Young, slender pods offer the most delicate eating experience.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus L.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Golden Wax Bean represents the golden age of American bean breeding, when heirloom varieties were developed for home gardeners who valued both flavor and practicality. Though the exact origins are lost to time, this cultivar emerged as gardeners selected for yellow pod color, productivity, and that distinctive buttery taste. Its status as an open-pollinated, heirloom variety means it has been grown, saved, and replanted by countless families, each generation preserving its essential character.”