Dragon Tongue Bean is an annual grown for its pods, ready to pick about 60 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the pods are the prize. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
3-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
60
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What Dragon Tongue Bean is
Dragon Tongue Bean grows as an annual and reaches around two feet at maturity. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Dragon Tongue Bean
Dragon Tongue Bean grows in USDA zones 3 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. Dragon Tongue Bean does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 55 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
60 days
Dragon Tongue bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cultivar); bush bean; fresh-shell or snap. Per Johnny's catalog 2024.
Johnny's
GDD Required
1200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
55+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant dragon tongue bean in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Dragon Tongue Bean prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Dragon Tongue Bean is ready about 60 days after sowing (Johnny's). Pick the pods young and tender, before the seeds inside fully swell.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — dragon tongue bean isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Dragon Tongue Bean offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Dragon Tongue Bean thrives
On hardiness alone, dragon tongue bean grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 3 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–11·Where Dragon Tongue Bean growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Dragon Tongue Bean can grow in these states:
See if Dragon Tongue Bean will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether dragon tongue bean actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Dragon Tongue Bean in my zone?
Dragon Tongue Bean grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Dragon Tongue Bean take to grow?
Dragon Tongue Bean is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting (Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Dragon Tongue Bean?
Most growers plant dragon tongue bean after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 55-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Dragon Tongue Bean need?
Dragon Tongue Bean needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Dragon Tongue Bean need?
Dragon Tongue Bean prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Dragon Tongue Bean attract pollinators?
Yes — dragon tongue bean's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Dragon Tongue Bean safe for pets?
Dragon Tongue Bean is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.