Faba bean or broad bean is a self-fertile, widely cultivated annual legume in the Fabaceae (bean) family. Grown primarily for its nutritious seeds and pods which are high in protein and consumed by millions of people throughout the world. Legumes also have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air and are often used as a cover crop. It is a stiffly erect plant that grows 2-6 feet tall and prefers moist loams but is tolerant of clay and saline soils and once established, drought. Four to five months are needed between sowing seed and harvesting. This cool season crop can be grown in most climates, however, temperatures in the 60's are ideal. In locations where the daytime temperatures exceed the mid 70's may result in poor yeild unless planted at a time when temperatures are milder. In areas that experience dry, hot weather, this plant may not be a good choice. Two subspecies are grown. Vicia faba var. major (broad beans) has large seeds, and is grown as a vegetable for human consumption. It can be used in soups, stews, salads and side dishes. Vicia faba var. minor (horse beans or field beans) is grown for feeding livestock. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Both beneficial and pest insects feed on the nectar. Susceptible to damage from aphids. Ingestion can be poisonous to some individuals. Inhalation of the pollen or ingestion of the seeds may cause favism, which is a severe anemia destroying red blood cells. This only occurs in cases of excessive consumption of the raw seed or breathing the pollen in people with a genetic disposition towards the disease.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Each stem is composed of 2-6 leaflets that are 4 by 1.5 inches. Each leaf has conspicuous stipules (appendages at the base of the leaf) which are toothed at the margins and vary widely in shape.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower detail
The stalked flowers are unbranched racemes with 1-6 flowers that are fragrant and resemble those of a pea bloom. Petals are white with the outermost one being marked with a purplish or brown blotch.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a narrowly oblong flattened pod up to 11 inches long containing up to 6 seeds. The seeds are .5 to 1 inch in diameter and are oval and compressed. The colors of the seeds range from brown to reddish or green.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
It has a course, stout, square, hollow stem having no branches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Middle East
Wildlife value
Bees, wasps and lady beetles are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Seeds; Nuts
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Edibility
Faba bean is widely grown for its nutritious seeds and pods. The dry, mature seeds are popular in dishes throughout the Middle East, Mediterranean countries, China and Ethiopia and in many other countries the green immature seeds and pods are eaten as a vegetable. It is also used in animal feed for pigs, horses, poultry and pigeons.
Uses (ethnobotany)
A fiber extracted from the stems is used for making soap.
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage; Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables
Problems
Poisonous to Humans
Resistant to
Drought
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits
Poison symptoms
Persons ingesting numerous seeds and having a genetic predisposition to favism may develop a blood disorder (hemolytic anemia) by eating the beans, or even by walking through a field where the plants are in flower.