Mucuna sloanei

‘Gold Jade Vine’ is a member of the bean family, Fabaceae, and native to the rainforests of Central and South America. Though rare in South Florida, it is a sea bean which has been found growing here naturally and listed as native according to the Florida Plant Atlas. It is a vigorous, high climbing, woody vine that can grow to 6 meters tall. It will need support or something to climb on, like a trellis, fence, arbor, or pergola. The leaves are trifoliolate and the inflorescence is a pendulous cluster of fragrant yellow flowers that bloom throughout the summer. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. The vine produces pods which contain several beans that are extremely buoyant and well adapted for ocean dispersal. Known to beachcombers around the world and commonly called sea beans, they often wash ashore on the beaches of distant continents and tropical islands. This one is the most common species of sea bean that washes ashore on beaches of the southeastern United States. These brownish-black seeds resemble hamburgers, hence another common name of this plant, ‘Brown Hamburger Bean’. Prefers full to partial sun and regular watering in well-draining soil. It is salt tolerant. (Pot size: 3 gallon)