San Bernardo Blue Bean 12 Seeds

Phaseolus vulgaris

San Bernardo Blue Bean is a rare and visually stunning heirloom pole bean originating from San Bernardo, Italy. This unique variety produces small, square-shaped beans in shades of slate blue to deep sapphire, making it one of the most unusual dry beans available.

The striking blue colour is temperature-dependent—beans maturing in cooler weather develop deeper blue tones, while heat produces more grey-blue shades. 

Highly productive and vigorous, this climbing bean is excellent for dry bean use, soups, stews, and specialty dishes, and is especially valued by collectors and rare seed enthusiasts.

Days to Maturity: 90–110 days (dry beans) 

Plant Details

• Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Variety: San Bernardo Blue (also known as Nonna Agnes Blue)
• Plant Type: Pole bean (climbing heirloom)
• Plant Height: 6–10 feet
• Growth Habit: Vigorous climbing vine
• Pod Colour: Green to yellow pods
• Bean Colour: Blue, slate, grey-blue (temperature dependent)
• Seed Shape: Small, square (“cut-short” style)
• Flavor: Mild, rich, excellent for cooking
• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Germination Time: 7–14 days
• Days to Maturity: 90–110 days

Key Features

• Rare blue-coloured beans (very unique in the seed world)
• Colour varies from grey to deep sapphire blue
• Highly productive climbing plants
• Excellent for dry bean storage and cooking
• Heirloom variety with European origin
• Strong visual appeal for market growers and collectors

Garden Uses

• Dry beans for soups, stews, and chili
• Heirloom and collector gardens
• Specialty market crops
• Seed saving and rare variety collections
• Vertical gardening on trellises

How to Grow from Seed

Direct Sowing

• Sow seeds 1–1.5 inches deep after last frost
• Space seeds 4–6 inches apart
• Provide trellis or poles (6–10 ft)
• Germination in 7–14 days

Growing Conditions

• Requires warm soil (minimum ~15°C)
• Full sun and well-drained soil
• Best colour develops with cooler late-season ripening

Care Tips

• Provide strong support for vigorous vines
• Water regularly during flowering and pod set
• Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer
• Allow pods to fully dry before harvesting beans
• Harvest later in season for best blue colour development

FAQ

Why are the beans blue?
The variety naturally produces blue pigment, but the intensity depends on temperature—cooler weather produces deeper blue tones.

Is this bean edible or ornamental?
Both! It’s fully edible and excellent for cooking, but also highly ornamental due to its rare colour.

Is San Bernardo Blue the same as Nonna Agnes Blue?
Yes. It was originally distributed under that name and later renamed after its Italian origin. 

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