It's hard to pick a favorite there's so many unique looking beans. Of the ones I have... Blue Jay, Snowcap, Vermont Appaloosa, Insuk Wang Kong, Soissons Vert, Berta Talaska and Bosnian Pole always get a second glance or two when I'm going through my seed stash.

Annette

Common beans chosen for their appearance: "Porcelain", "Bosnian Pole", "Chester", "Goose", "Tiger's Eye", and "True Red Cranberry". "Isla" is prettier than "True Red Cranberry", but hard to find. "Hopi Pole" and "Christmas" limas. "Insuk's Wang Kong" and "Tucomares Chocolate" runner beans. "Natsu Kurakake" soybean.

Insuks Wang Kong is nice especially at the shelly stage when it may be hot pink. Chester is like a black sky scattered with stars, very pretty. Anasazi is a nice raised red pattern on white. Orca or yin/yang bean stays black and white after cooking. The Loudermilk lima is a small white lima with a glossy raised black pattern on it.

Happy, Chester aka Flagg right? I forgot that one along with True Red Cranberry. I agree about the hot pink color of IWK shellies, really pretty. A new bean I have is olive green dried, I'm waiting to see what it looks like freshly shelled, hoping it looks more like it's picture, a darker green but... it's a wait and see if it will even grow here. I find the different colors and patterns fascinating.

Annette

Annette, the olive green bean is probably "Goose", or my "Ma Williams". Not as remarkable visually when green shelled, I'm afraid... at that stage, it's the bright pink pods that catch your eye.

Zeedman, this little bean is from Africa, said to be used like navy beans.

I only have a few seeds, don't know if it's pole or bush, don't even know if I can successfully grow it here. In any case it's one I will probably pass on to someone else if I'm successful as I don't have the space to grow enough to be useful.

The Soissons Vert sound AMAZING!!! Anyone have a few seeds for SASE or trade? I don't think I have much that's interesting, but I'll dig through my stash to see if I have anything you want.

Annette, yes, Chester is also called Flagg. It's a big flat oval bean, in a fairly hard darkish green pod, meant for dry or shelly use rather than snap, because the pod is leathery and tough.

What is the name of your little African Navy bean? Good luck with it. If you can't grow it maybe send a few to somebody down in Texas or Arizona or California. Well, that depends on what part of Africa it came from.

Happy, the name given is Fort Portal Jade and it's from western Uganda. I thought it might be fun to try growing it. I've given the link to Richters Seedzoo, they have endangered seed from around the world, kind of pricey for a few seeds but I'm going to give it a shot.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: SeedZoo

Ma Williams/Goose has one of the nicest looking pods. Here in the PNW the pods are a combination of gold and pink.

I always enjoy shelling Giant Red Tarka but wish there was some way to preserve them at the shelly stage without blanching them! The dry seeds look great too.

Rose has a remarkable looking seed - plum with a dusting of white on one side. Alas, it will not make mature seed here even when started in peat pots. - Dick

Annette, that bean is gorgeous. Thank you so much for posting the link. I am not sure if Richter's gives reliable seed descriptions or not, but it is listed as Phaseolus vulgarus var. nanus which means bush bean.

Drloyd, do the Giant Red Tarka beans lose their beautiful colors after blanching? I was hoping it kept most of its coloration when the shellies are cooked. They look so beautiful in pictures.

Giant Red Tarka fresh shellies are the only form with that color. When they are blanched the color mostly fades and when they dry it turns more brownish. - Dick

Is Giant Red Tarka a name given to the PI 507984 bean? Or is Giant Red Tarka a different bean?

If it is PI 507984, I already have it. If not, I'd like to trade for it.

Happyday, it is the same bean. Zeedman had been considering giving it a name so I started thinking about that.

At a Hungarian web site I found DEBRECENI TARKA SZ�RAZBAB which is somewhat similar except for color. Tarka is Hungarian for mottled or spotted. So we discussed some combinations that included the word tarka and Zeedman settled on Giant Red Tarka.

I tried to order from Civis Seed but they do not ship small lots. - Dick

Here is a link that might be useful: Hungarian bean site

The Decker Family Bean has one of the nicest looking very large tan and maroon shellies that I have grown. Alas, it needs a warmer summer than I can provide. I do not have seed for it. - Dick

I tried to order from Civis Seed but they do not ship small lots. - Dick

No wonder, those beans are huge!

The shipping on a packet of those would be expensive. I thought that C�GISMERTET� might mean "we are a bunch of comedians" but it means "company profile."

Perhaps the buildings in Hungary are really small. - Dick

Here is a link that might be useful: Big seeds

I want some colorful beans! Anyone care to trade something I have. I can give you rattlesnake, fortex, jade. Check out my trade list. Girlfriend and I are excited after looking at the pics. Where do I get them If I cant find someone willing to trade without spending a fortune on shipping?

"Dapple Grey" is my favorite, for looks. If I had to vote for ugliest, it might be "Edwards".

As far as looks go, I like Scarlet Beauty, Green Dixie and Tiger Eye to name but a few.

obrionusa said: "I want some colorful beans! ...Where do I get them If I cant find someone willing to trade without spending a fortune on shipping?"

Purcell Mountain is a good place to kick around for a while. *smile*

Rick

Here is a link that might be useful: Purcell Mountain Farms

I think 'Turkey Craw' Bean seeds are really beautiful.