Ornamental twining vine with handsome, purple-tinged, trifoliate leaves. It rapidly grows to 20' and will easily cover a trellis in a single season. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. Native to tropical Africa and India, can tolerate: drought, dry soil. L. purpureus has been cultivated in India as early as 2500 BCE. NOTE: only young immature pods can be cooked and eaten. Mature, dried seeds are toxic due to high levels of cyanogenic glucosides.
 
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date, or direct sow after last frost, planting 1"-2" deep, 6" apart. Germination is aided by soaking beans overnight.