Common Name:

seaside jackbean, baybean, beach-bean

Synonym(s):

Canavalia maritima

Genus species:

Canavalia rosea

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Form:

vine

Size:

0.5-1 ft tall by to 40 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink, lavender

Fruit Color:

green, brown

Phenology:

evergreen; blooms and fruits all year

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Groundcover in sandy areas. Used for dune stabilization. Fast growing.

Considerations:

It can be aggressive in the landscape. Mature seeds and seed pods are toxic.

Availability:

Propagation:

seed

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation)

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

circum-neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Coastal dunes

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Has a history of human use including use as a psychoactive substance and as food (experimentation not recommended). Said to have been an important food for the British explorer Captain James Cook and his crew during their voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771.

General Comments:

An important sand dune stabilizer. Long, prostrate stems.