Canavalia gladiata

Perennial

HomePerennialCanavalia gladiata

Not known in the wild.

Family: Fabaceae
Height: 10 m / 33 ft
Sun, Semi-shade
Light, Medium and Heavy Soil
Moist

Plant Rating

Edible Uses: 3 of 5
Medicinal Uses: 2 of 5
Other Uses: 3 of 5

Native Habitat

Sword Bean Canavalia gladiata native habitat is Not known in the wild.

Edible Uses

Young seedpods - raw or more commonly cooked and used as a vegetable. The pod is 20 - 30cm long and 2cm wide. Seeds - cooked. Thorough boiling is necessary in order to destroy a toxic alkaloid. The seedcoats are often removed, then the seeds are cooked in two or three changes of water. Large pods, 30-45cm long, are produced towards the end of summer and the seed gradually swell for several weeks (they fatten much more slowly than peas). It requires practice to identify when they’re fully matured, otherwise you don’t get much food from a pod. A haricot bean alternative!