VegetableBean
Red Swan Bean
Bush Bean
Red Swan Bean is a bush snap bean from Minnesota breeding stock that delivers striking purple-red pods on compact plants reaching just 16-20 inches tall. Robert Lobitz, a respected Minnesota seed breeder, developed this open-pollinated variety to combine visual drama with genuine eating quality. The beans mature in 50-59 days and retain their deep purple-red color even after cooking, arriving after a display of delicate pink flowers. Hardy in zones 3-9, this snap bean thrives in full sun and works equally well in garden beds, containers, raised beds, or greenhouses.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
20 in
Height
—
Width
4 in
Spacing
50–59
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
20in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The Red Swan Bean stops you mid-harvest with its vivid purple-red color that actually survives cooking, a rarity among colored snap beans. Those preceding pink flowers make the plant ornamental while you wait for pods. Stringless pods arrive quickly on compact, upright plants that need minimal space, and this is a non-GMO, open-pollinated bean you can save seed from year to year.
Common Uses
Red Swan Bean shines as a fresh snap bean, eaten pod-and-all when young and tender. The stringless pods are ready for simple cooking methods like steaming, stir-frying, or light sauteing that showcase their color and crisp texture. They work beautifully in composed salads where their purple-red hue adds visual interest, or roasted as a side dish.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow Red Swan Bean seeds directly into the garden after frost danger has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach 60-75°F. Plant in succession every two weeks for continuous harvests through the season.
Harvesting
Harvest Red Swan Bean pods when they are young, tender, and still snappy to the touch, typically 50-59 days from planting. Pick pods regularly to encourage continued production; leaving mature pods on the plant signals the plant to slow flowering. The purple-red color remains vibrant even after cooking, so you can identify ripe pods by feel and pod size rather than waiting for a color change.
Growing Calendar
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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
“Robert Lobitz, a well-known Minnesota seed breeder, created the Red Swan Bean by selecting within Phaseolus vulgaris germplasm for both visual distinctiveness and reliable performance. His work reflects the tradition of regional bean breeders who developed varieties suited to specific climates and gardener preferences. This cultivar emerged from that Minnesota breeding program as an open-pollinated variety, meaning it breeds true and allows gardeners to participate in seed saving.”