Merveille de Piemonte Bush Bean

Dragon Tongue Bush Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

• 19th-century Dutch heirloom selection

• Mild sweet snap bean flavor

• Compact bush plants heavy yielding

• Warm season full sun crop

• Purple streaked pods turn golden

Dragon Tongue is a classic bush bean that’s been grown across Europe since at least the 1800s, valued for both eating quality and visual appeal. The plants stay compact and productive, setting loads of 7-inch pods that are tender when young and still useful once filled out as a fresh shelling bean.

In the kitchen, these beans are mild, sweet, and flexible. Great raw, lightly cooked, or shelled for soups and sautés. The purple striping fades as the pods cook, but the texture stays soft and clean, which is why chefs and home cooks keep coming back to it. It’s quick to mature, easy to manage in small gardens, and reliable in warm, sunny conditions without taking over the bed.