Park Seed
'Black Knight' Heirloom Runner Bean
Best dual-purpose climber for gardeners seeking edible harvests and pollinator support.
Experience the 'Black Knight' Heirloom Runner Bean, a classic British variety from the 1800s. This vigorous vine produces stunning scarlet flowers and yields abundant, stringless black pods when harvested young, perfect for cooking. The beans themselves can also be enjoyed fresh or dried. Beyond its culinary appeal, this plant is a beautiful ornamental climber, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. It thrives in full sun and enriches your soil as a nitrogen-fixing plant, offering a substantial harvest.
$11.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
78
/ 1766
#78 in Seeds
Price vs Category Average
-36%
Below average
SKU
524631
/ -PK-P
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking aesthetic beauty in their vegetable patches
- Urban growers maximizing harvest in limited garden spaces
- Culinary enthusiasts prioritizing traditional heirloom flavor profiles
Who should skip it
- Busy gardeners unable to commit to daily harvesting schedules
- Gardeners lacking space or materials for sturdy vertical supports
- Farmers in regions with extreme, prolonged summer heat
Performance breakdown
Ornamental Appeal
Stunning scarlet blooms create a dramatic vertical display for any garden.
Culinary Versatility
Edible flowers and stringless pods offer multiple ways to enjoy harvests.
Pollinator Attraction
Vibrant flowers act as a magnet for local hummingbirds and butterflies.
Soil Enrichment
Natural nitrogen-fixing properties actively improve your garden bed health over time.
Growth Vigor
A robust climber that quickly covers trellises with lush, productive foliage.
Seed Reliability
Open-pollinated heirloom genetics ensure consistent results for future seed saving.
Key Specs
SKU
52463-PK-P1
Botanical Name
Phaseolus coccineus
Habit
Vining
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Moisture Requirements
Moist, well-drained
Soil Type
Normal, loamy
Days to Maturity
65 to 70 days
Pack Count
50 seeds
Features
- Heirloom variety, true to type from saved seed.
- Produces edible, stringless black pods.
- Edible flowers add flavor and garnish.
- Attracts beneficial pollinators.
- Vigorous vining habit requires support.
- Nitrogen-fixing soil enhancer.
- Adaptable to loamy soil.
- Open-pollinated, selected from Scarlet Runner.
What customers say
The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, centering on the exceptional reliability and quality of the Black Knight heirloom runner bean. Gardeners consistently report high germination rates, ensuring a successful start to the season. The resulting harvest is praised for its superior flavor and striking deep purple color, making it a reliable and rewarding choice. Consumers feel this product offers excellent value, delivering a dependable, high yielding crop that exceeds expectations.
Know before you buy
Yes, 'Black Knight' is a vigorous vining plant that requires a sturdy trellis, fence, or pole system to climb. Without support, the vines will sprawl on the ground, which can reduce yield and make harvesting difficult.
For the best texture, harvest the pods while they are young and tender, typically around 65 to 70 days after planting. At this stage, they are stringless and ideal for cooking.
Yes, because this is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety, the seeds you save will grow true to type. This allows you to maintain your own supply of 'Black Knight' beans season after season.
The scarlet flowers are completely edible and offer a mild bean-like flavor. They make a beautiful, unique garnish for salads or summer dishes.
As a legume, 'Black Knight' is a nitrogen-fixing plant. It works with soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, effectively enriching your soil for future crops.
Absolutely. While the pods are best eaten young, the beans themselves can be harvested once mature and enjoyed fresh or dried for long-term storage.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$12