Giant Nilgiri Pole Bean Seeds

One of the great pole beans of 2022. So much more beautiful looking than I imagined it would be, and for such a large bean it was super duper productive. Originates in Nilgiri, India – a mountainous region that spreads across the borders of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. This is just a theory, but I believe these beans came to have this name owing to their wonderful purplish blue speckled colouring. Nilgiri translates in English to ‘Blue Mountains’ which are named for a flower, the Nellakurinji, which is also purplish blue and blooms only once every 12 years. Just a gorgeous bean. I have no idea if it can be eaten green, but would love to know if anyone tries it that way. So for now I’ll call it a dry bean.  Gratefully received from the wonderful collection of Russ Crow, Woodstock, Illinois.