Dolichos Ruby Moon - Lablab Bean seeds

Dolichos lablab 'Ruby Moon' is a compact and colourful selection of an African climbing plant that resembles a climbing bean. Its rapid growth and flowering allow it to be grown as an annual plant. With its beautiful bean-like foliage tinted with reddish-purple and pretty clusters of fragrant pink and lilac pea flowers in summer, followed by shiny almost purple pods in autumn, this small climber has many assets. Egyptian dolichos plants are perfect for covering a small wire fence, an arch or a trellis or for screening an annoying neighbour. They are undemanding, low-maintenance plants, very easy to grow in a sunny, warm and sheltered position.

Dolichos lablab, also known as Lablab purpureus, Lablab niger, Dolique lablab, Egyptian bean or Indian bean, is a tender perennial climbing plant from the bean family, Fabaceae. Its origins are believed to be in Central Africa, but it has been cultivated for a long time, especially in East Africa and Asia, as a vegetable plant and fodder for livestock. In Europe, it is mainly the ornamental qualities of selected forms that interest gardeners. It is usually grown as an annual in open ground or pots, although it can survive short frosts of around -7°C (19.4°F) under a thick protective mulch. This small climber can tolerate any well-drained soil, even shallow, chalky and poor.

'Ruby Moon' is slightly smaller than the species, with flowers in two shades, lilac pink and pale pink. The plant develops an extensive root system, capable of deep penetration into the soil to draw moisture. Its twining stems do not exceed 3m (10ft) and will naturally wrap around the support provided (stakes, wire mesh, trellis, shrub). They bear large, deeply veined leaves divided into 3 leaflets. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, washed with purple and bronze, while the underside is purplish pink. Flowering begins approximately 5-6 weeks after sowing, as soon as the temperature exceeds 20°C (68°F), and lasts for almost 4 months. From July to September, numerous slender panicles of pea flowers, bicolour in pink and lilac, appear in the leaf axils. These pleasantly scented flowers attract many insects and butterflies. The flowers are followed by flattened, short and fairly wide, shiny, dark purple-violet pods with brown reflections. They contain small dark seeds that can be harvested for sowing the following spring.

Egyptian dolichos Ruby Moon is an original and highly ornamental plant that will fit well in ornamental gardens, in pots to adorn the terrace or balcony, or even in the vegetable garden. It can be used in the same way as sweet peas and morning glories, with which this climber pairs well. Let these annuals climb a tall teepee, a wire mesh, a small hut, or a trellis on a wall. While its water and nutrient requirements are low, Lablab needs long, warm summers to ripen its seeds.