ONE OF THE OLDEST RUNNER BEANS IN ITS TRUE FORM IN EXISTANCE. SCARLET RUNNER SEVEN YEAR BEAN! THE SCARLET EMPORER BEAN! THE KING OF THE BEANPOLE! THIS ONE FORMS A TUBER AND THEN KEEPS GROWING EVERY YEAR UP TO SEVEN YEARS! BOMB PROOF GROWING!

One of the oldest runner beans still grown today, the Scarlet Emperor was first recorded in 1750 and originally hails from the highlands of Guatemala and Mexico. It became a favourite in English gardens right up until the late 1800s—and it’s easy to see why!

This is a bean with personality. It climbs like it’s on a mission, so make sure you give it room to roam—a trellis, fence or pole will do nicely. In return, you’ll be rewarded with a lush screen of emerald green leaves, vibrant scarlet-orange flowers, and plenty of delicious beans. It’s fast-growing, low-maintenance, and utterly beautiful—a real showstopper in any veggie patch or flower garden.

The beans themselves? Young pods are tender, tasty, and full of flavour, perfect as snaps or sliced into stir-fries. Once dried, the seeds inside range in colour from vivid pink to purple-streaked lilac—stunning raw, although the colour sadly fades when cooked. The plump 6–8 inch pods aren’t as uniform as modern hybrids, but their rich, savoury taste more than makes up for it.

If you need a bit of summertime privacy, plant a few Scarlet Runners and let them do the heavy lifting—fast. All they ask is a bit of weeding early on, and then they’ll thrive with very little care. With their ornamental beauty and edible bounty, Scarlet Runner Beans bring joy, flavour, and a touch of drama to any garden.

How to Grow Scarlet Runner Beans from Seed

Sow seeds directly where you want them to grow, as Scarlet Runner Beans don’t transplant well. Wait until the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up—usually in late spring to early summer in most parts of Australia.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. These beans love a trellis, fence, or teepee to climb, so have your support in place before sowing.

Sowing Depth: 2–3 cm
Spacing: 10–15 cm between seeds; rows about 60 cm apart
Germination Time: 7–14 days
Watering: Keep soil moist (but not soggy) while seeds germinate. Once established, water regularly, especially during flowering and pod development.

Scarlet Runner Beans grow quickly, so keep young plants weed-free until they take off. Mulching helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool.

For best eating, harvest the pods while they’re still young and tender. You can also let some mature on the vine to dry and collect the beautiful seeds.

These beans also love cooler nights, so they thrive in temperate and subtropical climates—perfect for many parts of Australia.