Best Beans & Legumes to Grow in Texas
Texas sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 8. These 58 bean varieties are suited to Texas's 240-day growing season with last frost around March 15 and first frost around November 15.
Varieties
58
for Texas
USDA Zone
8
240-day season
Beginner
34
easy to grow
Heirloom
38
heritage varieties
Texas in USDA Zone 8
Texas is primarily in Zone 8. Varieties that thrive in this zone will typically grow well across the state, though local microclimates vary.
When to Plant Beans & Legumes in Texas
Growing Beans & Legumes in Texas
Zone 8 gardeners hit the sweet spot for bean growing with our generous 240-day growing season stretching from mid-March through mid-November. This extended season means you can grow everything from quick-maturing bush varieties to sprawling pole beans that need months to reach their full potential. The challenge isn't cold – it's managing the intense summer heat that can stress plants and reduce pod set during July and August. Look for heat-tolerant varieties and those with disease resistance, particularly to fungal issues that thrive in our humid summers.
The varieties I've selected for Zone 8 shine because they either embrace the heat or mature before summer's peak intensity hits. Cherokee Trail of Tears and Rattlesnake Pole Bean are heirloom champions that evolved in similar climates, while modern varieties like Provider Bush and Contender Bush were specifically bred for heat tolerance. Purple-podded varieties like Royal Burgundy and Cherokee Purple Pod perform exceptionally well here – their darker pods actually handle sun stress better than traditional green varieties, and they're easier to harvest in our bright summer light.
Variety Comparison
Variety Details
Black Turtle Bush Bean
A classic dry bean variety prized for its rich, earthy flavor and meaty texture that makes it perfect for Latin American cuisine. These small, glossy black beans are incredibly nutritious and store exceptionally well, making them a pantry staple for home gardeners who want to grow their own protein source.
Black Valentine Bush Bean
A reliable heirloom bush bean prized for its exceptional cold tolerance and ability to produce in less-than-ideal conditions. This hardy variety has been a garden staple since the early 1900s, producing abundant crops of tender green pods even in cool weather. Black Valentine is the go-to choice for northern gardeners and anyone wanting a dependable, no-fuss bean variety.
Blue Lake Bush 274
The gold standard for green beans, developed from the famous Blue Lake pole variety but bred for compact bush growth. These tender, stringless pods have the classic fresh bean flavor and crisp texture that made Blue Lake beans the choice of commercial processors and home gardeners alike. Perfect for beginners who want restaurant-quality green beans without the hassle of trellising.
Blue Lake Pole Bean
The gold standard of pole beans, Blue Lake produces heavy yields of tender, stringless pods that maintain their quality whether picked young or allowed to mature. This reliable variety climbs vigorously to 6-8 feet and delivers consistent harvests throughout the season, making it a favorite among home gardeners who want maximum production from minimal space.
Borlotto Bush Bean
An Italian heirloom treasure that produces stunning speckled pods streaked with red and cream, making it as ornamental as it is delicious. Also known as cranberry beans, these dual-purpose beauties can be harvested young as tender snap beans or left to mature for plump, flavorful shelling beans perfect for Italian cuisine.
Bountiful Bush Bean
A tried-and-true heirloom from 1898 that lives up to its name with incredibly heavy yields of tender, stringless pods. This variety is prized for its long harvest window and ability to produce well even in less-than-ideal conditions. Gardeners love its reliability and the fact that it continues producing over several weeks rather than all at once.
Burpee's Stringless Green Pod
A beloved heirloom introduced in 1894 that revolutionized bean growing by being one of the first truly stringless varieties available to home gardeners. These productive plants produce tender, meaty pods with exceptional flavor that remains consistent throughout the harvest season. A perfect choice for gardeners seeking reliable, old-fashioned quality with the convenience of modern stringless technology.
Bush Blue Lake 274
The compact bush version of the legendary Blue Lake pole bean, delivering the same exceptional flavor and tender texture in a space-saving package. These dark green, stringless pods are incredibly productive and perfect for gardeners who want premium quality without the hassle of trellising. A reliable performer that consistently ranks among the top choices for fresh eating and freezing.
Bush Kentucky Wonder
A compact bush version of the famous Kentucky Wonder pole bean, delivering the same exceptional flavor and tender texture without the need for trellising. This reliable variety produces abundant harvests of long, flat, meaty pods that are perfect for fresh eating or preserving. Popular with home gardeners who want Kentucky Wonder quality in a space-saving bush form.
Bush Lake Bean
The beloved Blue Lake flavor in a space-saving bush form, Bush Lake delivers the same exceptional taste and stringless quality that made Blue Lake famous. This compact variety is perfect for smaller gardens and containers while maintaining the superior eating quality of its pole bean cousin. Produces concentrated harvests of tender, straight pods that are ideal for fresh eating or preserving.
Bush Romano Italian
A classic Italian flat-podded bush bean that produces wide, meaty pods with exceptional flavor and tender texture. These productive plants deliver the authentic taste of Italian cuisine right from your garden, perfect for fresh eating or preserving. Romano beans are prized by chefs and home cooks alike for their superior cooking qualities and rich, nutty flavor.
Calypso Bush Bean
A striking heirloom dry bean featuring distinctive black and white orca-like markings that make it as beautiful as it is delicious. Originally from the Caribbean, this compact bush variety produces abundant pods filled with kidney-shaped beans perfect for soups, stews, and Caribbean dishes. The dramatic two-toned pattern and rich, earthy flavor make Calypso beans a favorite among both gardeners and chefs.
Cherokee Pink Bean
A rare and beautiful heirloom dry bean with stunning pink and burgundy mottled coloring that's been passed down through Cherokee families for generations. This vigorous bush variety not only produces gorgeous beans but also offers exceptional flavor and nutrition, making it perfect for both ornamental and culinary purposes. The striking appearance and cultural significance make this a must-grow variety for heirloom enthusiasts.
Cherokee Purple Bean
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.
Cherokee Purple Pod Bean
A stunning heirloom pole bean that produces gorgeous deep purple pods on vigorous vines, creating an eye-catching display in any garden. Beyond their ornamental value, these beans offer excellent flavor and turn green when cooked, making them both beautiful and delicious. This Cherokee Nation variety represents centuries of careful seed saving and cultural heritage.
Cherokee Trail of Tears
A sacred heirloom bean carried by Cherokee people during their forced relocation in the 1830s, preserving both history and exceptional flavor. These beautiful purple-black beans produce abundantly and are prized for their rich, meaty texture and deep, complex flavor that improves with cooking. A living piece of American history that connects modern gardeners to indigenous agricultural traditions.
Contender Bush Bean
A reliable and productive bush bean that lives up to its name as a top contender in home gardens. This variety excels in both hot and cool weather conditions, producing abundant harvests of tender, stringless pods that maintain their quality even when picked large. Developed for its exceptional adaptability and consistent performance, making it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners.
Detroit Dark Red Bush Bean
An eye-catching heirloom variety that produces deep burgundy-red pods on sturdy bush plants. While the pods turn green when cooked, they're absolutely stunning in the garden and at harvest. This productive variety offers the same great taste as traditional green beans with the added visual appeal of colorful pods.
Dragon Tongue
A stunning Dutch heirloom that transforms any garden into a conversation piece with its cream-colored pods dramatically streaked with purple flames. Beyond their striking appearance, these beans offer exceptional flavor when harvested young as snap beans, with a tender texture and sweet, nutty taste that's perfect fresh or lightly cooked. The purple markings fade when cooked, but the superior flavor remains.
Early Contender Bush Bean
A reliable, early-maturing green bean that's perfect for short seasons and beginning gardeners seeking guaranteed success. This hardy variety produces abundant, tender 6-inch pods even in challenging weather conditions, making it a dependable choice for consistent harvests throughout the growing season.
Fordhook 242 Lima Bush
An improved version of the classic Fordhook Lima, this heat-tolerant variety produces large, plump seeds with the creamy texture and buttery flavor lima bean lovers crave. Developed for better performance in warm climates, it's more reliable than older lima varieties while maintaining that distinctive rich taste. This bush variety eliminates the need for staking while delivering impressive yields of premium-quality beans.
Fortex Pole Bean
A French filet bean that produces extraordinarily long, slender pods up to 11 inches in length while maintaining tender texture and exceptional flavor. This vigorous climbing variety is beloved by gourmet gardeners for its elegant appearance and restaurant-quality taste that stays tender even at full size. Fortex offers an extended harvest window since the pods remain stringless and succulent much longer than typical varieties.
French Filet Bean Maxibel
A premium French filet bean that produces an abundance of ultra-thin, tender pods with exceptional flavor and texture that rivals the finest restaurant-quality haricots verts. This vigorous climber continues producing for weeks when harvested regularly, offering gourmet quality beans that are perfect for elegant dining. Popular with home gardeners who want to grow their own gourmet vegetables and chefs who demand the best flavor and presentation.
Gold Marie Vining Bean
A stunning French heirloom that produces bright golden-yellow pods on vigorous climbing vines. This variety offers the best of both worlds with tender, flavorful snap beans when young and excellent shell beans when mature. The brilliant yellow color makes it a showstopper in the garden and adds vibrant color to any dish.
Gold Rush Bush Bean
A premium yellow wax bean that delivers exceptional flavor and beautiful golden color to the garden and dinner table. This high-yielding variety produces straight, tender pods that hold their color and quality exceptionally well. Gold Rush is beloved by gardeners for its reliability, disease resistance, and outstanding fresh eating quality.
Golden Wax Bush Bean
A classic yellow wax bean that's been delighting gardeners since the 1870s with its bright golden pods and exceptional tenderness. These compact bush plants produce heavy yields of stringless, buttery-flavored beans that are as beautiful as they are delicious, making them perfect for both the dinner table and farmers market sales.
Haricot Vert Cornelia
The ultimate gourmet French filet bean that produces incredibly slender, tender pods prized by fine restaurants and home cooks alike. These pencil-thin beans maintain their delicate texture and refined flavor even when mature, offering the authentic French haricot vert experience in your own garden. Perfect for gardeners who appreciate culinary excellence and want to elevate their cooking with truly premium ingredients.
Henderson Bush Lima
A compact, early-maturing lima bean perfect for northern gardens and small spaces, producing abundant crops of small, buttery lima beans in just 65 days. This reliable heirloom has been a garden favorite since the 1880s, valued for its dependable production and rich, creamy flavor. Unlike larger lima varieties, Henderson Bush thrives in cooler conditions and doesn't require the long, hot growing season that limits other lima beans.
Henderson Lima Bush
A compact, early-maturing lima bean that's been a garden favorite since 1888, perfect for short growing seasons and small spaces. These productive bushes yield tender, buttery baby lima beans that are much more palatable than large limas, with a creamy texture and mild flavor. An excellent choice for gardeners new to growing lima beans or those wanting a reliable, heat-tolerant variety.
Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean
A stunning heirloom dry bean with distinctive white and maroon spotted patterns that earned its name from resembling the biblical Jacob's spotted cattle. This New England heritage variety combines beautiful appearance with exceptional flavor, making it both a conversation starter and a delicious addition to soups and stews.
Jacob's Cattle Pole Bean
A historic New England heirloom dating back to the 1800s, named for its resemblance to the speckled cattle mentioned in the Biblical story of Jacob. This vigorous pole variety produces beautiful white beans with distinctive maroon splotches and offers exceptional flavor and protein content. The beans have been a staple in Maine cuisine for generations and are prized for their ability to hold their shape and absorb flavors in traditional bean dishes.
Jade Bush Bean
A premium hybrid bush bean renowned for producing perfectly straight, dark green pods with exceptional tenderness and flavor. This variety sets the standard for quality in fresh market beans, maintaining its crisp texture and bright color even after cooking. Jade's compact, upright growth habit and concentrated harvest make it ideal for both small gardens and larger plantings seeking restaurant-quality beans.
Kentucky Wonder Pole
America's most beloved heirloom pole bean, cherished by gardeners since the 1850s for its incredible productivity and old-fashioned bean flavor. These vigorous climbing vines produce an abundance of long, curved pods that are best harvested young and tender, though they can also be left to mature for excellent shell beans. A true garden workhorse that keeps producing until frost.
King of the Garden Lima Pole
The undisputed champion of lima beans, this vigorous pole variety produces enormous pods filled with large, buttery lima beans that are considered the finest flavored available. Dating back to the 1880s, this heirloom climber delivers impressive yields and sets the standard for what a premium lima bean should taste like.
Lazy Housewife Pole Bean
Despite its unfortunate historical name, this 1800s heirloom is beloved for its completely stringless pods and dual-purpose nature as both snap and shell bean. The creamy white seeds are delicious fresh or dried, and the plants are incredibly productive climbers. This variety truly lives up to its reputation for being low-maintenance while delivering exceptional harvests.
Lima King of the Garden Pole
An impressive pole lima bean that produces the largest, most flavorful lima beans you can grow in a home garden. This vigorous climbing variety yields enormous pods packed with 4-5 buttery, sweet beans that are considered the gold standard for fresh or dried lima bean cuisine.
Maxibel Haricot Vert
The ultimate French filet bean prized by gourmet cooks for its incredibly slender, pencil-thin pods and exceptional tenderness. This productive bush variety produces an abundance of extra-fine beans that maintain their delicate texture and vibrant color whether served fresh or lightly cooked. Maxibel represents the pinnacle of fine bean breeding, delivering restaurant-quality haricot verts for the home gardener's table.
Pencil Pod Black Wax Bean
A treasured heirloom wax bean dating back to the 1890s, Pencil Pod Black Wax produces beautiful golden-yellow pods that are perfectly round and stringless. This reliable bush variety offers exceptional flavor and tender texture, making it a favorite among gardeners who appreciate both historical significance and superior eating quality. The bright yellow pods are easy to spot for harvesting and add vibrant color to garden beds.
Pole Lima Speckled Christmas
A stunning heirloom lima bean that lives up to its festive name with cream-colored beans decorated in burgundy speckles that resemble holiday ornaments. This vigorous pole variety climbs 8-10 feet and produces abundant large, flat pods filled with buttery, flavorful lima beans. The combination of exceptional taste, beautiful appearance, and reliable production makes this a standout variety for gardeners seeking something special.
Provider Bush
The ultimate beginner's green bean, specifically bred for reliability and performance in challenging growing conditions. This hardy bush variety tolerates cool weather better than most beans and produces heavy yields of tender, stringless pods even when other varieties struggle. Perfect for northern gardeners and anyone who wants a foolproof bean that delivers consistent results.
Provider Green Bush Bean
The ultimate cool-weather tolerant green bean that extends your growing season at both ends, thriving in conditions that would stop other varieties cold. This reliable producer sets abundant crops of tender, flavorful pods even during cool, wet springs and can handle light frosts that would damage more tender beans.
Purple Podded Bush Bean
A stunning heirloom variety that produces vibrant purple pods that turn green when cooked, making it both ornamental and delicious in the garden. These eye-catching plants are incredibly easy to harvest since the colorful pods stand out dramatically against the green foliage. Beyond their beauty, these beans offer excellent flavor and are perfect for gardeners who want something unique and conversation-worthy.
Purple Podded Pole Bean
An eye-catching heirloom climbing bean that produces abundant clusters of deep purple pods on vigorous 8-foot vines. The stunning purple pods make this variety a garden showstopper while providing excellent eating quality and productivity. This dual-purpose beauty serves as both an edible crop and an attractive garden accent that climbs any support structure.
Purple Top Bush Bean
A stunning heirloom variety that produces beautiful purple-streaked pods on compact bush plants, adding both color and flavor to the garden. The tender young pods are excellent fresh, while mature beans can be dried for winter storage, making this a true dual-purpose variety that's been treasured by gardeners for generations.
Purple Top Turnip Bean
A stunning heirloom pole bean that produces beautiful purple-streaked pods that transform to green when cooked. This vigorous climber not only provides an abundant harvest but also adds ornamental value to the garden with its attractive purple-tinged foliage and colorful pods. The tender, flavorful beans have been cherished by gardeners for generations and offer both visual appeal and exceptional taste.
Rattlesnake Pole Bean
A striking heirloom pole bean featuring distinctive purple streaks and mottled patterns that resemble rattlesnake markings, making it as ornamental as it is productive. This heat-tolerant Southern favorite produces abundant harvests of tender, flavorful pods throughout the summer, even in challenging growing conditions. The vigorous vines not only provide delicious beans but also create an eye-catching display in the garden with their unique coloration.
Red Noodle Long Bean
An eye-catching Asian variety that produces incredibly long, burgundy-red pods that can reach up to 24 inches in length while maintaining tenderness and flavor. This vigorous climbing bean is not only productive but adds dramatic color and height to the garden with its striking appearance. Popular in Asian cuisine, these beans are tender when young and maintain their beautiful color when lightly cooked.
Roma II Bush Bean
An improved version of the classic Italian Romano bean, Roma II produces exceptionally wide, flat pods with incredible flavor and meaty texture. This compact bush variety brings gourmet Italian bean quality to small gardens and containers, producing heavy yields of the broad, tender pods beloved in Mediterranean cuisine. Perfect for gardeners who want premium flavor without the space requirements of pole varieties.
Romano Italian Bush Bean
A classic Italian heirloom prized by chefs and home gardeners for its exceptionally wide, flat pods and rich, intense flavor. These meaty beans have a distinctly different taste and texture from regular green beans, with a more substantial bite and earthy flavor that holds up beautifully to cooking. Popular in Mediterranean cuisine, Romano beans are perfect for gardeners who want something special beyond ordinary green beans.
Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
A stunning ornamental edible that produces deep purple pods on compact plants, making harvest incredibly easy since the colorful beans stand out against green foliage. These tender, stringless pods turn bright green when cooked, offering the perfect combination of garden beauty and excellent eating quality. An All-America Selections winner that brings both function and dramatic flair to any vegetable garden.
Scarlet Runner Bean
Scarlet flowers against green, heart-shaped foliage. Rapid climbers. Beans are edible and delicious when young. Keep pods picked for continuous bloom. May simply be called scarlet runner. A hummingbird favorite. Edible Flowers: The flowers offer a mild and sweet flavor. Use them to garnish or in salads, soups, and desserts.
Tendercrop Bush Bean
An All-America Selections winner renowned for producing consistently tender, stringless pods even when mature, making it nearly impossible to pick them too late. This dependable variety offers excellent disease resistance and heavy yields of straight, round pods that maintain their quality longer than most bush beans. A top choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike who want foolproof, high-quality green beans.
Tendergreen Bush Bean
A time-tested heirloom that has been delighting gardeners since 1925 with its exceptional tenderness and flavor. These medium-green, stringless pods are incredibly productive and maintain their quality even when picked large. Known for its reliability and adaptability, Tendergreen is the perfect choice for beginning gardeners seeking a foolproof, delicious bean variety.
Top Notch Golden Wax
A premium yellow wax bean variety that combines disease resistance with exceptional eating quality and attractive golden-yellow pods. This modern improvement on classic wax beans offers more consistent production and better pod quality than older varieties. The tender, stringless pods have a delicate flavor and beautiful presentation that makes them perfect for fresh eating or preserving.
Topcrop Bush Bean
A classic All-America Selections winner from 1950 that remains one of the most reliable bush beans for home gardeners. This prolific variety produces straight, stringless pods with excellent flavor and texture. Known for its concentrated harvest period and exceptional disease resistance, making it perfect for both fresh eating and preserving.
Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean
A beloved New England heirloom that's been grown in Vermont gardens since the 1700s, featuring beautiful burgundy-red beans that resemble cranberries when dried. This compact bush variety is perfectly adapted to shorter growing seasons and produces reliable yields of flavorful beans that have sustained New England families for centuries. The rich color and exceptional flavor make it a favorite for traditional baked bean recipes and modern farm-to-table cuisine.
Yard Long Bean
An exotic Asian climbing bean that produces dramatically long, slender pods up to 3 feet in length, creating a stunning conversation piece in any garden. Also known as Chinese long beans or asparagus beans, these vigorous vines are heat-loving and incredibly productive in warm climates. The tender young pods have a unique flavor that's nuttier and more complex than regular green beans, making them prized in Asian cuisine.
Yellow Romano Pole Bean
A spectacular yellow version of the classic Italian Romano flat bean, offering the same meaty texture and rich flavor in beautiful golden pods. These vigorous climbing vines produce abundant harvests of wide, flat pods that are incredibly tender when young. Yellow Romano brings both stunning color and gourmet flavor to the garden, perfect for fresh eating and elegant side dishes.
Zone 8 Growing Tips for Texas
In Zone 8, resist the urge to plant too early – soil temperature matters more than air temperature for beans. Wait until soil consistently reaches 60°F, usually around April 1st, about two weeks after our average last frost. Cold, wet soil leads to rot and poor germination. For succession planting, sow bush beans every 2-3 weeks through early July, then stop to avoid the August heat stress. Resume planting in late August for a fall crop that often outperforms summer plantings.
Pole beans need different timing since they're in it for the long haul. Plant them in late April through mid-May so they establish strong root systems before summer heat hits. Provide afternoon shade during peak summer if possible – even a strategically placed taller crop can make the difference between thriving plants and stressed ones. Mulch heavily to keep roots cool and maintain consistent soil moisture, which is critical during pod development.