I am in the same situation as you..my beans have just died...It is my understanding that they were originally runner beans or viing beans and the cultivated varieties are now bush....I think where you get your bean seed can probably tell you.

I found out they're half-runners, so they need some support but won't get like 8 feet tall or something. More like 3 or 4.

I'm going to give them a go and see if they like this weather. I'm far enough south so that July and August are the off-season for gardening rather then December or January. I have no problem growing cold tolerant plants like cole crops and root veggies right through the winter, but most plants get fried in the summer.

I'm working on closing the summer gap so I'll have a true year-round garden. :-)