Velvet Bean
Mucuna pruriens
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Christmas I., Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maluku, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Is., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Agong1
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Mucuna
- Species:
- Mucuna pruriens
- USDA Symbol:
- MUPR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soils in tropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat required; soak in warm water 24 hours or nick seed coat. Germinates best at warm temperatures (25-30°C).
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI