In the Garden Now ... Blue Bean Shrub

Blue Bean Shrub

Blue Bean Shrub

Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

Looking for an unusual shrub for your woodland garden?

Consider this showstopper. Clusters of colorful beans decorate the plant from later summer into fall. 

The common names ‘Blue Bean,‘ ‘Blue Sausage Fruit’ and ‘Blue Man’s Fingers’ shrub all describe the fruit of this large shrub well.

Yellow green flowers are followed by blue four inch long bean like fruit. Our Blue Bean Shrub has been surprising visitors to our Lake Forest Park fall garden with its bright blue fruit for years. 

(Botanical Name: Decaisnea fargesi)

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Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years. She lives in Lake Forest Park.