Crop type: Beans for drying
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Yin Yang’
Common name: Dwarf French bean ‘Yin Yang’
Crop slug: beans-for-drying
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Yin Yang’ is a compact dwarf French bean grown for its unusually patterned mature seeds. It forms a bushy plant with green leaves and white flowers, followed by green pods containing plump beans marked in sharply contrasting black and white.
The dwarf habit makes this variety suitable where tall climbing supports would be inconvenient. It can also be grown in containers, provided the plants receive strong light, fertile soil and consistent moisture.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
As an annual crop, the plant reaches its full size during a single growing season. Its compact height and spread distinguish it from the climbing beans commonly chosen for drying.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline or neutral
The profile allows for a wide range of soil textures and pH levels. The important combination is fertility, reliable moisture and free drainage: plants should not dry out while flowering and filling pods, but their roots should not remain waterlogged.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- East-, south-, north- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H2 — tolerant of low temperatures down to roughly 1–5°C, but not able to survive freezing
Although the listed aspects are broad, the profile calls for full sun and shelter. In practical terms, choose the warmest bright position available and do not expose this tender annual to frost.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
| Season | Flowers | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | — | Green | — |
| Summer | White | Green | Green, black and white |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
The plant’s main ornamental feature appears as the pods mature: ordinary green pods conceal the distinctive black-and-white beans for which the cultivar is named. An em dash indicates that the RHS profile does not list a colour for that season, rather than proving the feature is absent.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Phaseolus contains annual and perennial legumes, usually with climbing or trailing growth and leaves divided into three leaflets. Members of the genus are cultivated for edible seeds—including French, runner and lima beans—as well as for animal feed, green manure and ornamental use.
Safety
The RHS profile flags raw pods and beans as harmful if eaten, including for dogs. It also advises wearing gloves and suitable protective equipment when handling the plant. Cook beans appropriately before eating and keep raw pods or beans away from pets.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow ‘Yin Yang’ in fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage and plenty of light. The variety can be grown in a patio container as well as in open ground. Arrange dwarf plants fairly close together in broad rows or blocks so neighbouring plants help support one another.
Propagation
Raise plants from seed. Beans need warmth to germinate and should not be moved into an exposed outdoor position while frost remains a risk.
Suggested locations
- Edible crop beds
- Sunny patio containers
- Sheltered vegetable plots without space for climbing supports
Pruning
No pruning is required. The plant naturally remains compact and bushy.
Pests
The profile notes possible susceptibility to slugs and snails and to blackfly, also known as black bean aphid. Check emerging plants for grazing and inspect tender shoots and leaf undersides for aphid colonies.
Diseases
‘Yin Yang’ may be susceptible to runner and French bean rust. Provide reasonable spacing and airflow, and inspect foliage so signs of infection are found promptly.