Purple Bushbean
Macroptilium atropurpureum
- Native to:
- Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Galápagos, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, United States
Vlmastra
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Macroptilium
- Species:
- Macroptilium atropurpureum
- USDA Symbol:
- MAAT80
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, maroon
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Chioides catillus
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, livestock forage
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from crown and roots after fire; commonly used in fire-prone tropical and subtropical pastures.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Seeds benefit from hot water treatment or mechanical scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI