Dragon Tongue is a Dutch heirloom bush bean that has captivated gardeners since at least the 19th century with its remarkable combination of stunning beauty and incomparable flavor. The 7-inch pods arrive in a striking yellow color streaked with vivid purple, making them as much a visual delight in the garden as they are on the plate. These tender, superbly delicious beans mature in just 60 days and grow on compact plants that reach 24-30 inches tall, producing high yields in even modest spaces. Beyond their fresh-snap appeal, the pods also shell beautifully for use as dried beans, giving this variety uncommon versatility.
Full Sun
Moderate
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30in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The stunning purple-streaked yellow pods are instantly recognizable and genuinely delicious, setting Dragon Tongue apart from standard green beans in both appearance and taste. The quick 60-day maturity combined with compact plant structure means you can harvest abundant tender beans from a small footprint. Its dual purpose as both a fresh snap bean and a shelling bean adds practical versatility to its undeniable ornamental charm, making it one of the most rewarding varieties for home gardeners seeking beauty and flavor in a single plant.
Dragon Tongue beans are harvested young and tender as fresh snap beans, best enjoyed simply steamed, sautéed, or eaten raw in salads where their crisp texture and delicious flavor shine. The mature pods can also be allowed to dry and shelled for use as dried beans in soups and stews. The striking appearance of the fresh pods makes them equally at home in farmers market displays and vegetable gardens grown specifically for ornamental value alongside culinary production.
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Sow seeds directly into the garden once soil has warmed to at least 70°F and all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart in full sun.
Begin harvesting Dragon Tongue beans when the pods reach 6-8 inches long and while they still snap cleanly between your fingers. At this stage, the pods are tender and the beans inside are small and immature. Pick regularly every 2-3 days to encourage continued flowering and pod production; beans left on the vine too long become tough and stringy. For shelling beans, allow pods to mature fully and begin to dry on the plant, then harvest and shell the dried beans inside. Fresh snap beans are best harvested in the early morning when they're most crisp.
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“This famous Dutch heirloom, also known as Merveille De Piemonte or Dragon Langerie, traces its roots back at least to the 19th century. The variety emerged from European gardening traditions, particularly Dutch and Italian heritage, where heirloom beans were carefully selected and preserved across generations. Its survival and continued cultivation speaks to the dedication of seed savers who recognized its exceptional flavor and striking appearance as worthy of preservation. Today it remains a treasured heirloom, maintained and distributed by specialty seed companies committed to preserving these historically significant varieties.”