Crop type: French Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Purple Teepee’
Common name: Dwarf French bean ‘Purple Teepee’
Crop slug: french-beans
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
‘Purple Teepee’ is an annual dwarf French bean with green trifoliate foliage and mauve flowers. It produces a heavy crop of striking dark-purple beans held above the leaves, an arrangement that keeps pods cleaner, makes them easy to see and simplifies picking.
Plants grow to about 45cm, so the colourful crop fits small beds and patio containers without tall supports. The purple pods turn green during cooking. The current RHS profile does not display an Award of Garden Merit, so this guide makes no award claim.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The compact bush needs no climbing frame. Planting in a block lets neighbouring plants support one another while retaining the cultivar’s useful presentation of pods above the foliage.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam or sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
‘Purple Teepee’ accepts varied soil textures and pH values. Fertile, moisture-retentive ground or compost supports its heavy crop; drainage remains important around the compact root system.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- East-, south- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed or sheltered
- Hardiness
- H2 — tolerant of low temperatures but unable to survive freezing
Treat as a tender summer annual and plant outside after frost. Full sun strengthens the contrast between green leaves, mauve flowers and dark-purple pods.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
| Season | Flowers | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | — | Green | — |
| Summer | Mauve | Green | Dark purple |
The above-foliage purple pods are the primary field identifier. Their colour changes to green with cooking, so identify and photograph the cultivar before kitchen preparation.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Phaseolus includes annual and perennial legumes with trifoliate leaves and usually climbing or trailing stems, alongside compact dwarf selections. Species provide French, runner and lima beans, dried seed, animal feed, green manure and ornamental crops.
Safety
Raw pods and beans are harmful if eaten by people or dogs. Cook the crop thoroughly before consumption. The RHS profile also advises protective equipment when handling where appropriate.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good light, either in the ground or a patio container. Space plants fairly close in wide bands or blocks so bushes support one another. Water consistently from flowering and pick the elevated purple pods regularly to sustain production.
Propagation
Propagate by seed.
Suggested locations
- Cottage or informal garden
- Patio container
- Edible bed or allotment
Pruning
No pruning is required. Harvest carefully from above the foliage without breaking the compact stems.
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails and blackfly. Protect seedlings and inspect soft shoots and leaf undersides for aphids.
Diseases
May be susceptible to runner and French bean rust. Maintain airflow through blocks and clear affected crop debris after the season.