Mucuna Pruriens (Velvet Bean): The Plant, Its Seeds and Its Uses
Mucuna pruriens, commonly called the velvet bean, is a fast-growing tropical legume. It is grown around the world as a soil-improving crop, and its glossy, marbled seeds are instantly recognisable.
The plant
Velvet bean is an annual climbing vine native to tropical Africa and Asia and now grown throughout the tropics. In a single season its stems can reach many metres. It carries hanging clusters of purple or white flowers followed by curved pods covered in fine hairs, which give the plant its common name. On wild types these hairs cause intense itching on contact, so the pods are handled with gloves.
The seeds
Each pod holds several seeds. Depending on the variety they are black, brown, cream or mottled, with a smooth, glossy coat and a distinctive raised scar along one edge.
How velvet bean is used
- Cover crop and green manure – as a legume, velvet bean fixes nitrogen from the air. Farmers grow it between main crops to add fertility, protect the soil and smother weeds.
- Animal feed – the foliage and processed seeds are used as livestock feed in many tropical regions.
- Food – in parts of Asia, Africa and Central America the seeds are eaten after long soaking and repeated boiling, with the water discarded. The raw seeds are not edible.
- Crafts – the hard, patterned seeds are used as beads.
Storing the seeds
Keep velvet beans dry, cool and sealed. Dry seeds store well for a long time.
Please note
We sell Mucuna pruriens velvet beans as a dried botanical product. We make no health claims about them, and they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Common questions
Is velvet bean the same as Mucuna pruriens?
Yes. Velvet bean is the common English name for Mucuna pruriens.
How fast does velvet bean grow?
Very fast. In warm conditions the vines can cover the ground within weeks, which is why it is valued as a weed-suppressing cover crop.
Why do the pods itch?
The hairs on the pods of wild types contain an irritant that causes intense itching on skin contact. Handle the pods with gloves.
What do the seeds look like?
They are bean-shaped, about one to two centimetres long, glossy, and range from black and brown to cream or mottled.
