15 Heirloom Bush Bean Varieties

By
Chris McLaughlin
Chris McLaughlin
Chris McLaughlin is the author of several gardening books. He is Master gardener and homesteader with over 35 years of experience.
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Updated on 12/15/20
Rows of green-leaved bush beans

Nick Rains / Getty Images

No vegetable garden is complete without a bean plant or two. For those with a small yard or homestead, compact bush beans fit the bill perfectly (versus pole beans). Bush beans mature on the plant all at once, so you can plant them at three-week intervals to extend the naturally short harvest window. Because they do ripen at nearly the same time, bush beans are a good choice for a homestead garden if you plan on canning.

Bush been varieties described as heirlooms have been around since before 1900—although some have been recently developed from one of these old varieties. These are generally easy-to-grow plants, though they may not have the full spectrum of resistance to pests and disease found in modern hybrids. But, in exchange for slightly greater susceptibility, heirloom varieties are often much tastier than many modern hybrids.

Here are 15 heirloom bush beans to consider for your vegetable garden.

Gardening Tip

Bush beans like moderately rich soil with a slightly acidic pH. Amending the soil with peat moss or another acidifying organic material is good preparation for planting bean seeds. Soil should be kept moist but not soggy until flowering begins; then, watering can be stepped up until the harvest is complete.

  • 01 of 15

    'Blue Lake 274' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Blue Lake 274')

    Climbing French green beans (Blue Lake) on a back garden trellis
    Laurence Berger / Getty Images

    'Blue Lake 274' was developed from the very old 'Blue Lake' pole bean in 1961. It may not bear a fancy name, but its tender 5-to-6-inch pods are reliable and bountiful. Eat as many as you can fresh from the garden, and then can or freeze the rest of the harvest. Seedling to harvest takes about 60 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 15–20 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 02 of 15

    'Bountiful' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Bountiful')

    This bush bean has good resistance to mildew, beetles, and rust. The high-quality, stringless pods of 'Bountiful' are delicious, and they keep well—ideal candidates for freezing and canning. Once known as New Green bush bean, the plant was renamed around 1900. The 6-to-7-inch pods can be harvested 45–50 days after seedlings emerge.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 03 of 15

    'Burpee's Stringless' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Burpee's Stringless')

    'Burpee's Stringless' is known for its great full flavor and satisfying snap. Introduced in 1894, this plant is drought-tolerant, heat-resistant, and renowned for being prolific. Germination to harvest of its 5-inch pods takes about 46–50 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 12–18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 04 of 15

    'Cherokee Wax' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cherokee Wax')

    First available to the public in 1947 and based on a much older bean, 'Cherokee Wax' produces an abundance of long, waxy, disease-resistant yellow pods. Harvest and use them fresh, frozen, or canned. Seedling to harvest of its 6-inch pods takes roughly 58 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 16–18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    'Contender' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Contender')

    'Contender,' also known as 'Buff Valentine,' is a high-yielding, disease-resistant producer of tasty pods. A darling of gardeners since its introduction in 1949, this is one of the fastest-maturing beans: In the right conditions (warm soil), 'Contender' is ready to harvest in just over 40 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 12–20 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 06 of 15

    'Tongues of Fire' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Tongues of Fire')

    Also known as 'Borlotto' or 'Horto,' this is considered an Italian heirloom variety of bush bean. Italian cooks have long raved over the dried beans in soups, but 'Tongues of Fire' is also eaten young as a green bean. The pods are white with red streaks. It's ready to harvest as a snap bean within 50–60 days.

    • Native Area: Southern South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 12–14 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 07 of 15

    'Dragon Tongue' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Dragon Tongue')

    Dragon tongue bush beans at a organic farmer's market in Ojai California
    Bill Boch / Getty Images

    Stringless and prolific 'Dragon Tongue,' with its creamy yellow pods covered in thin purple streaks, is a kid's favorite in the garden. It's also a favorite of chefs for its superb flavor. First cultivated in the Netherlands in the late 18th century, harvesting of 'Dragon's Tongue' can begin about 55–60 days after seedlings sprout.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 08 of 15

    'Kentucky Wonder Bush' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Kentucky Wonder Bush')

    This prolific producer of stringless, flavorful pods, also known as 'Commodore,' was introduced as a bush bean during the late 1800s. The pods of 'Kentucky Wonder Bush' are up to 9 inches long; when picked early, they're said to be among the tastiest of all green beans. The foliage, however, is a favorite of Japanese beetles. Harvest can begin about 65 days after seedlings sprout.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 12–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    Continue to 9 of 15 below.
  • 09 of 15

    'Landreth Stringless' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Landreth Stringless')

    Landreth Seed Company, the oldest seed house in America, introduced this bush bean in 1885. The pods of 'Landreth Stringless' are juicy, chock full of snap, and bursting with full flavor. This traditional green bean is excellent and very prolific.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 10 of 15

    'Nickel Bush' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Nickel Bush')

    'Nickel Bush' is a high-quality French-filet bean that's stringless and delicious. A favorite among chefs, it's also resistant to white mold and brown spot. The flattened 4-inch pods are ready to harvest about 52 days after sprouting.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 11 of 15

    'Calima' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Calima')

    This French-filet snap bean freezes and cans like a dream. Harvest 'Calima' bush beans when they're about the thickness of a pencil. The 4-to-6-inch pods, which are dark green, are ready in about 50 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 16–22 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 12 of 15

    'Provider' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Provider')

    'Provider' is an early, fleshy, disease-resistant, and prolific (to say the least) snap bean that germinates in cool soil. It's an excellent choice for canning and freezing. The fleshy round pods are about 5 inches long, ready for harvest in 48–54 days. This bush bean is something of a modern heirloom, introduced in 1965.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 15–18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    'Royalty Purple Pod' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Royalty Purple Pod')

    'Royalty Purple Pod' doubles as an ornamental in the kitchen garden by offering purple blooms. Stringless purple pods turn green when they're cooked and make an excellent choice for veggie soup. The 5-to-6-inch pods of 'Royalty Purple Pod,' which was bred in 1957, are ready to harvest in 55 days.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 14 of 15

    'Tendercrop' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Tendercrop')

    Resistant to mosaic virus and pod mottle virus, the 'Tendercrop' bush bean is ideal for gardens in the West and northern Midwest. It's an exceptionally prolific and easy-to-grow snap bean. The pods are ready to start harvesting when they're 4 inches long, which takes about 55 days after seedlings sprout.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 16–20 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • 15 of 15

    'Top Crop' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Top Crop')

    Another prolific plant, 'Top Crop,' released in 1950, offers round, meaty, stringless pods. It's a flavorful homestead favorite that's exceptional for canning and freezing. The 6-inch pods are ready to harvest about 52 days after seedlings sprout.

    • Native Area: Central America and South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–11
    • Height: 18–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
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