Canavalia rosea

Seaside Jackbean, Baybean, Beach-bean

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Also known as Canavalia maritima

Plant Specifics

Form:	Flower
Size:	.5-1 ft tall by to 40 ft wide
Life Span:	Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:	Pink,lavender
Fruit Color:	Green,brown
Phenology:	Evergreen. Long prostrate stems. Blooms and fruits all year.
Noted for:	Showy flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:	Groundcover in sandy areas. Used for dune stabilization. Fast growing.
Considerations:	It can be aggressive in the landscape. The seeds and seed pods are poisonous.
Propagation:	Seed.
Availability:	Native nurseries, Seed
Light:	Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	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

Ecology

Wildlife:	Attracts bees.
Insects:
Native Habitats:	Coastal dunes.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Comments

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.