The black ones are blue as shellies and the mauve ones are hot pink as shellies. If your blue beans are plump, not wrinkled, and if they dry down to black, there is a good chance they will be good to plant next year.

Thank you Happyday. I didn't get any hot pink ones. Maybe next time. I haven't had much experience growing beans. That's interesting about the colors.

There are three colors that I saw in IWK, pure white beans, mottled similar to Scarlet Runner, and pure black. They are more tolerant of heat that any other runner bean I've tried, but they do NOT like heat. You can grow them if planted extremely early, as in 2 weeks before last frost, and planted on the north side of a tall crop such as corn. This may not seem like much microclimate modification, but it gave me a huge crop of beans in North Alabama.

DarJones

Thank you DarJones - I will try more shade next time. I planted mine on the east side of a three foot tall retaining wall. I had a trellis so they could climb on up past the wall but they didn't want to go there. Too hot. The top of the vines died where they were in full sun.

If the wall was brick or concrete, maybe the heat from the wall was too much for them. Try planting them on a trellis in the garden next time.

Christie
If you happen to need more seeds let me know. I have plenty and can send you some.

Jim

Thank you for the offer Jim but I have some left overs and I think they should still be viable. I won't plant them in the same spot again.