VegetableBean
Cherokee Black Wax Bean
Cherokee Black Wax Bean is an open-pollinated bush bean that produces bright yellow pods filled with glossy black seeds, a striking visual contrast that makes harvesting almost fun. Ready to pick in 50 to 59 days, this annual thrives across hardiness zones 3 through 11, adapting to everything from northern gardens to warm southern climates. The plants stay compact at 12 to 24 inches tall, fitting neatly into containers, raised beds, and garden rows, while packing serious disease resistance against bacterial blight, bean common mosaic virus, powdery mildew, rust, and multiple disease races. It's a dependable snapper that rewards gardeners with abundant yields and the kind of old-variety flavor that reminds you why heirloom beans matter.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
6
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The contrast between yellow pods and black beans inside is visually gorgeous and makes these beans instantly recognizable when harvesting. Beyond looks, Cherokee Black Wax brings genuine disease-fighting power to the garden, resisting five major bean threats including bacterial blight and multiple races of bean common mosaic virus. The compact bush habit means you can tuck this variety into tight spaces without staking, while the 50 to 59 day maturity keeps harvests coming before many summer pests peak. Its suitability for containers, raised beds, and greenhouses gives gardeners unusual flexibility for a traditional snap bean.
Common Uses
Cherokee Black Wax Beans shine as fresh snap beans, picked young and tender for steaming, sautéing, or adding to stir-fries where their color holds beautifully. The yellow pods with black seeds inside make them visually distinctive in salads or vegetable medleys, and they're excellent for blanching and freezing to preserve their quality through winter.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Cherokee Black Wax Bean seeds into warm soil after all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, 6 inches apart in rows spaced 24 inches apart. Beans germinate best when soil temperature is 60°F or warmer; ideally wait until soil reaches 70°F or above for fastest germination and growth.
Harvesting
Pick pods when they reach 4 to 6 inches long and snap cleanly when bent, typically 50 to 59 days after planting. Harvest in the morning after dew dries for best texture and flavor. Regular picking every 2 to 3 days encourages the plant to continue flowering and producing more pods; pods left to mature will slow overall production. Look for pods that are still tender and before the seeds inside become too prominent and hard.
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)