Cherokee Purple Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cherokee Purple'
A stunning heirloom bush bean that produces deep purple pods with excellent flavor and tender texture. The beautiful purple color makes this variety as ornamental as it is productive, turning bright green when cooked. This Cherokee Nation heirloom is perfect for gardeners wanting both beauty and exceptional taste in their bean harvest.
Harvest
50-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cherokee Purple Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Cherokee Purple Bean · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Rattlesnake'Pole Snap Bean, 'Rattlesnake'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Cherokee Purple beans stay crisp for 7-10 days in your refrigerator's crisper drawer, stored in a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation. Don't wash them until you're ready to use them, as excess moisture promotes spoilage.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. Once cooled, trim ends and freeze in portions for up to 8 months. The purple color will fade to green during blanching, but flavor remains excellent.
These beans pickle beautifully – their tender texture and mild flavor work perfectly in dilly bean recipes. You can also ferment them into a tangy, probiotic-rich side dish using a 3% salt brine. For long-term storage, let some pods mature fully on the plant until they're dry and papery, then shell out the beans for dried storage in airtight containers.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids, reduces nematode populations in soil
Corn
Provides natural trellis support for climbing beans, part of Three Sisters planting method
Squash
Large leaves suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, completes Three Sisters companion trio
Carrots
Beans fix nitrogen in soil which carrots utilize, carrots help loosen soil for bean roots
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels bean beetles
Summer Savory
Repels bean beetles and aphids, may improve bean flavor when grown nearby
Rosemary
Strong scent deters bean beetles, Mexican bean beetles, and carrot flies
Radish
Quick-growing crop that breaks up soil, harvested before beans need full space
Keep Apart
Onion
Stunts bean growth and reduces yields through root competition and allelopathic compounds
Garlic
Inhibits bean germination and growth through sulfur compounds released by roots
Sunflower
Allelopathic chemicals inhibit bean growth, competes heavily for nutrients and water
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance typical of hardy heirlooms
Common Pests
Bean beetles, aphids, spider mites, cucumber beetles
Diseases
Bean mosaic virus, bacterial blight, anthracnose, rust