VegetableBean
Dragons Tongue Wax Bean
Dragon's Tongue is an heirloom wax bean from Europe that delivers both visual drama and reliable harvests in 60 to 69 days. The bush plants grow 12 to 24 inches tall and produce striking yellow-green pods dramatically streaked and mottled with deep purple, making them as beautiful on the plate as they are in the garden. Hardy in zones 3 through 9, this open-pollinated snap bean thrives in full sun and adapts easily to containers, raised beds, and traditional garden plots.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The pods themselves are the showstopper here: a buttery yellow base splashed and streaked with bold purple mottling that catches the light as you harvest. This old European heirloom has earned alternate names like Dragon Langerie and Merveille di Piemonte across different regions, a testament to its long cultivation and appreciation. The bush growth habit keeps plants compact and manageable while resisting Bacterial Blight and Powdery Mildew, two common bean troubles, so you get reliable production without constant vigilance.
Common Uses
Dragon's Tongue functions as a snap bean, harvested young and tender for fresh eating. The pods cook down beautifully in stir-fries, retain their vibrant color when steamed or sautéed, and add visual interest to salads both cooked and raw. The open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds from your best plants each season, making it a favorite for gardeners who practice seed saving.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Dragon's Tongue seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds and thin seedlings to 4 inches apart in rows spaced 24 inches apart.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting pods around 60 to 69 days after planting, once they reach tender snap stage. Pick pods when they are young, about 6 to 8 inches long, while the skin still snaps easily between your fingers and before the pods become tough and stringy. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to continue flowering and setting new pods throughout the season. The distinctive purple mottling on the yellow-green background makes ripe pods easy to spot among the foliage.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Dragon's Tongue originates from Europe as an heirloom variety, part of a long tradition of bean cultivation in the continent. The fact that it carries multiple regional names, Dragon Langerie in some areas and Merveille di Piemonte in others, reveals how widely it was grown and preserved across different gardening communities. Each region that saved and grew these seeds added its own story to the variety, making it a living connection to generations of European gardeners who valued both its distinctive appearance and reliable performance.”