Blue bean (Decaisnea fargesii)
Blue bean (Blue
bean)
Definitely different and very ornamental, the blue bean is a small shrubby tree from China.
Tall and spreading, the blue bean
can reach about 3 m in height, with beautiful pale green pinnate foliage and strange long yellow-green racemes of flowers in spring, the whole plant seems to have a bluish tinge. It will grow in sun or semi shade preferring a moist but well drained soil.
The fruit is quite something though, being a long fleshy follicle resembling a broad bean and a fabulous metallic blue in colour. Quite unlike anything else... and yes, you can eat the sweet flesh though you have to remove the seeds.