Big Red Lima

Species · Phaseolus lunatus
Regional heritage · Unknown
Growth habit · Climbing / pole
Harvest time · As the days shorten

Big Red Lima is a productive climbing lima bean with large seeds, similar in size to Christmas Lima. The shelled beans are pink when fresh and deepen to dark burgundy as they dry.

The beans can be shelled fresh for cooking or left to mature and dry for use in soups, stews and other bean dishes.

The seed was shared at a local crop swap in Sydney by a gardener who received it from her Lebanese neighbour, who grows the bean. Its original variety name and geographic origin are unknown.