Once you’ve decided to add bush beans to your garden, there will likely be no going back.
These veggies are so easy to grow, such fun to harvest, and delicious to eat, it’s likely you’ll want to keep adding new types to your summer garden beds each year.
But with literally hundreds of varieties out there, it can be hard to know which ones you’ll like best – and which will perform well in your garden.
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To help you decide which cultivars you may want to try in your own garden, I’ve compiled a list of 35 of the best bush beans available – including classic snap, stringless, filet, long podded, yellow, purple, and Romano cultivars.
Whether you are new to growing bush beans or are an experienced gardener, there should be something to pique your gardening curiosity on this list.
There are dry and shelling bush beans too, but for this article, I’ll stick to a selection of the best fresh eating (and freezing and canning) varieties.
Before I get into the details of what makes each of these bush beans shine, here’s an overview:
35 Favorite Bush Bean Varieties for Your Garden
Classic Snap Cultivars
Let’s start with the classics. There are a lot of unique selections out there, but sometimes you just want a basic snap bean with that classic green bean taste and texture.
Many of these have winning attributes, such as improved disease resistance, making them a breeze to grow.
1. Harvester
‘Harvester’ is a prime example – it’s an open-pollinated heirloom snap with excellent disease resistance.
This variety produces high yields of six-inch-long green pods that are smooth, tender, and straight.
Upright plants are 20 inches tall at maturity, and hold their pods high, making picking easy.
‘Harvester’ is resistant to mosaic virus and powdery mildew, and is harvest-ready in 55 days.
You can find ‘Harvester’ seeds in packets of various sizes at Eden Brothers.
2. Porch Pick
If you want a classic snap that will behave nicely in a container, ‘Porch Pick’ is the bush bean for you.
This productive variety produces loads of five-inch-long green pods that are crisp, tender, and flavorful.
Plants are compact with small leaves and grow up to 18 inches tall, making them just right for container gardening.
‘Porch Pick’ will provide you with a generous harvest of bush beans in just 55 days.
You can find packets of 200 seeds available at Burpee.
3. Provider
Are you looking for a heat and stress tolerant snap variety that will grow in nearly any climate?
‘Provider’ is an open-pollinated variety that produces heavy yields in almost any soil type, and is extremely tolerant of hot summer temperatures.
This cultivar sets flavorful, dark green pods that grow to five to six inches long, ready to harvest in 50 days.
Vigorous plants grow 16 to 24 inches tall at maturity, and along with being heat tolerant, are also resistant to mosaic virus and curly top virus.
You can find packets seeds available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
4. Tendergreen
If you enjoy using your harvest for canning and freezing, as well as in your home-cooked meals, consider ‘Tendergreen.’
‘Tendergreen’ is an all-purpose snap variety that will please both the gardeners and the cooks in your household.
This reliable heirloom open-pollinated variety produces high yields of tender, green, six-inch pods that are a delight to the taste buds.
A favorite of many gardeners, ‘Tendergreen’ is sturdy and resistant to mosaic virus, maturing in 60 days.
You’ll find ‘Tendergreen’ seeds for purchase in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers.
Stringless Snaps
Some gardeners may not mind keeping the string in string beans. Stringing beans can bring up fond memories of helping out in the kitchen as a kid.
However, for those of us who prefer skipping this additional cooking task, stringless varieties are the clear choice, and there are plenty of stringless options available.
5. Landreth Stringless
‘Landreth Stringless’ is an open-pollinated heirloom variety that was introduced by the Landreth Seed Company in 1885.
It produces fiberless, slightly curved snaps that are medium green in color and hold dark brown seeds.
The five-inch-long pods are tasty, tender, and meaty – and work wonderfully for canning, or fresh eating.
Plants are upright, and produce a good yield of pods in 55 days.
You can find ‘Landreth Stringless’ seeds for purchase in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers.
6. Strike
A heavy yielding, open-pollinated variety, when ‘Strike’ reaches maturity it produces an onrush of pods that are smooth, slim, and straight. And don’t forget – stringless!
Pods are medium green in color, five to six inches long, and contain white seeds.
These bush beans are great for fresh eating, freezing – and for canning.
Plants are resistant to mosaic virus, and they are large and vigorous, so make sure they have plenty of room to spread.
‘Strike’ comes to maturity in 54 days.
You can find ‘Strike’ seeds in a variety of packet sizes at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
7. Stringless Green Pod
If you like seeds with some history, this heirloom is bound to be of interest. Burpee’s ‘Stringless Green Pod’ is the cultivar that started the stringless green bean trend.
The “father of the stringless bean,” seedsman Calvin N. Keeney, developed this variety, which was introduced through the W. Atlee Burpee Seed Company in 1894.
‘Stringless Green Pod’ is an early maturing, open-pollinated cultivar that produces an abundant yield of dark green pods that are five to six inches long in just 50 days.
These slightly curved stringless snaps are flavorful, with a juicy and meaty texture.
Vigorous plants grow to 12 to 18 inches tall and are resistant to mosaic virus and powdery mildew. They are also heat tolerant and do well in dry climates.
You can find ‘Stringless Green Pod’ seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Burpee.
8. Tenderette
This heirloom was introduced by the Charter Seed Company of Twin Falls, Idaho in 1962.
Living up to its name, ‘Tenderette’ is an open-pollinated variety that produces an abundance of straight, smooth pods that are tasty and tender.
Stringless dark green pods are 5 inches long and contain white seeds, and they are ready to harvest in 58 days.
Heat tolerant plants grow to 20 inches in height at maturity, and are resistant to mosaic virus and Northern leaf blight.
You can find ‘Tenderette’ seeds for purchase in several different packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.
9. Tenderpod
Another stringless snap named for its succulent texture, ‘Tenderpod’ was the All-America Selections Winner in the edible category in 1941 and is still popular among gardeners.
This early maturing, open-pollinated heirloom – also known as ‘Tender Pod’ – produces reliable harvests of five-inch-long, dark green pods.
Pods are round and thick, slightly curved, and have a tender and crisp texture.
Plants have good general disease resistance and grow to 15 to 20 inches tall.
‘Tenderpod’ is early maturing, with bush beans ready to harvest in just 50 days.
Filet Cultivars
Compared to snap beans, filet beans are slimmer, and are usually prepared whole instead of cutting into pieces.
Also called haricot verts or French filet beans, these tend to be very tender and make excellent side dishes.
10. Beananza
‘Beananza’ was developed by Burpee to be an abundant producer of tender, stringless filet beans. Delectable seven-inch pods are dark green and fiberless.
Small plants reach just 15 inches in height, perfect for container growing – and if picked regularly, they will keep producing for far longer than other cultivars.
‘Beananza’ comes to maturity in 55 days.
You can find ‘Beananza’ seeds available exclusively at Burpee.
11. Desperado
This heavy yielding cultivar may make you want to hum a classic rock tune while you’re in the garden – but ‘Desperado’ will not leave you feeling desperate for bush beans.
It will keep on giving and giving loads of delicious, dark green filet pods throughout the summer.
These slim haricot verts are five and a half inches long, straight, and have brown seeds.
Upright plants grow 12 to 15 inches tall, and have a high tolerance to mosaic virus.
‘Desperado’ is also highly heat tolerant, and will come to maturity in 55 days.
You can find packets containing 200 seeds available at Burpee.
12. Masai
‘Masai’ is an heirloom haricot vert that’s perfect for container gardening or small spaces.
This open-pollinated French variety is disease resistant and reliable, producing slender green pods with white seeds.
‘Masai’ provides a harvest of stringless, four-inch-long “baby” filet bush beans that are tender, tasty, and easy to pick.
Small, compact plants reach 12 inches in height.
Since plants are on the small side, they are not as high yielding as some other varieties, but the tradeoff is that they make excellent potted plants.
Plants are resistant to mosaic virus, bacterial brown spot, and curly top virus.
‘Masai’ matures very early, providing a harvest in just 47 days.
You can find ‘Masai’ seeds for purchase in packets of various sizes at True Leaf Market.
13. Mascotte
If you’re looking for a filet bush bean to grow in containers or small spaces, but want pods a bit larger than the baby filets that ‘Masai’ produces, ‘Mascotte’ is an excellent choice.
In fact, ‘Mascotte’ even won over All-America Selection judges, who awarded it the prize for best new edible variety in 2014.
‘Mascotte’ is open-pollinated, and produces abundant harvests of six-inch-long filet beans in just 50 to 55 days.
The green pods from this award winner are stringless, crunchy, and very tasty.
Compact plants grow 16 to 20 inches tall, and hold pods above their foliage, making picking easy.
Once the plants start producing, harvest every two to four days.
This variety also has excellent disease resistance, standing up well against anthracnose, mosaic virus, and halo blight.
You can find ‘Mascotte’ seeds for purchase at True Leaf Market, in packs of 1,000 or 10,000 seeds.
14. Maxibel
‘Maxibel is a French heirloom that comes with the advantage of performing well in cool soils.
This open-pollinated variety produces generous yields of tender, thin, filet style bush beans that are typically picked when they are six to eight inches long.
Pods have an intense flavor. They are green with dark seeds, and stringless if picked young and often.
Plants grow to 15 to 20 inches in height, and reach maturity in 65 days.
You can find seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
15. Triomphe de Farcy
Maybe container gardening isn’t your thing and what you really want is an early maturing filet style bush bean. If so, let me introduce you to ‘Triomphe de Farcy.’
This is an open-pollinated French heirloom – sometimes called ‘Triumph de Farcy’ – that matures early and produces an abundant and flavorful crop.
Its pods are green and sometimes streaked with purple. They are slender, crunchy, and stringless when picked young.
Pods should be picked often, when they are three to six inches in length, for best texture and flavor.
Plants have general disease resistance and reach 15 to 20 inches in height. You’ll be harvesting ‘Triomphe de Farcy’ beans in just 48 days.
‘Triomphe de Farcy’ seeds can be purchased in 2-ounce packets at Burpee.
Long Podded Cultivars
To contrast with the somewhat diminutive filet cultivars, I’m now going to explore the opposite end of the bush bean spectrum – varieties with particularly long pods.
While they may not be as long as Chinese long beans, these long-podded varieties can give you more bean for your buck – and still have that familiar green bean taste.
16. Big Kahuna
‘Big Kahuna’ is a bit of a paradox. It produces the largest pods of the 35 varieties presented here – yet these mammoth bush beans hang from compact plants that easily adapt to containers.
‘Big Kahuna’ produces green snaps that can reach a monster length of 11 inches, while still remaining crisp and tender and keeping their delicious, nutty flavor.
Compact plants grow to 24 inches in height.
‘Big Kahuna’ will come to maturity in 57 days after planting.
You can find ‘Big Kahuna’ seeds in two and eight-ounce packets exclusively at Burpee.
17. Blue Lake 274
Brace yourself to be knocked out by this super producer. ‘Blue Lake 274’ is an open-pollinated variety that gives an extra heavy yield of long snaps.
The sweet tasting six- to eight-inch pods are green and tender.
Plants are compact, growing to 18 inches tall, and maturing in 58 days.
You can find ‘Blue Lake 274’ seeds available at Botanical Interests.
18. Jade
In addition to its tasty, long pods, ‘Jade’ has so much going for it. This heirloom is open-pollinated and tolerant to stress, heat, and cold. It is also disease resistant and very productive.
‘Jade’ produces slender, seven-inch-long, dark green pods that are straight, crisp, and tender – and enclose pale green seeds.
This is a popular variety among gardeners, with an excellent flavor and texture that holds up beautifully to canning.
Although plants are resistant to cool temperatures, like most other beans, they require warm soils for the best rates of germination.
Plants are strong and upright with beans held off the ground, making picking easy.
‘Jade’ is resistant to bean mosaic virus, curly top virus, bacterial brown spot, and rust.
This variety reaches maturity in 57 days.
You can find ‘Jade’ seeds available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
19. Kentucky Wonder 125
If ‘Jade’ sounds great but you just can’t wait 57 days, how about an earlier maturing variety for your crop of long-podded snap beans?
‘Kentucky Wonder 125’ is an open-pollinated heirloom that will give you an early and prolific harvest in just 48 to 50 days.
Pods are seven to eight inches long and flat, with a medium green color and white seeds. These long snaps are tasty and they have a meaty texture.
Plants grow to 16 inches tall and are resistant to mosaic virus and Northern leaf blight.
You can find ‘Kentucky Wonder 125’ seeds at Eden Brothers.
20. Top Crop
‘Top Crop’ is an early, low maintenance heirloom that won the All-America Selections Gold Medal in the edible category in 1950.
Also known as ‘Topcrop,’ this open-pollinated variety produces heavy yields of seven-inch-long straight pods.
Medium green pods are fiberless with a meaty texture, and very tasty.
‘Top Crop’ is a great all-purpose bush bean, making for delicious fresh eating, but also holding up beautifully to canning and freezing.
Vigorous plants grow to 15 to 18 inches tall and are resistant to mosaic virus.
An early maturing bush bean, ‘Top Crop’ will be ready to harvest in just 52 days.
You can find ‘Top Crop’ seeds in a wide range of packet sizes available at True Leaf Market.
Yellow Podded Cultivars
We’re now stepping away from green bush beans for a while to consider some yellow podded varieties.
Commonly called “wax beans,” the yellow pods of these cultivars are easy to spot on green plants and keep their yellow coloring when cooked.
21. Cherokee Wax
Also known as ‘Cherokee,’ this heirloom open-pollinated variety was an All-America Selections Winner in 1948.
It was developed at Clemson University in South Carolina and is well-loved for its productivity and vigor, as well as its delicious, stringless wax beans.
Pods are colored light yellow with black seeds, and reach five to six inches in length.
They are tasty, nutty, and tender, retaining their stringless quality even when mature.
‘Cherokee Wax’ makes for excellent fresh eating, but also cans and freezes well.
Plants grow to 24 inches tall and can become somewhat viney, so make sure you give them enough room to sprawl.
‘Cherokee Wax’ is resistant to mosaic virus and comes to maturity in 58 days.
You can find ‘Cherokee Wax’ seeds at Eden Brothers.
22. Gold Mine
‘Gold Mine’ is an early maturing wax variety that grows in clusters, making picking even easier.
This open-pollinated cultivar produces heavy yields of smooth, straight yellow snaps that hold white seeds.
Pods are five to six inches long, sweet, crisp, and delicious whether eaten fresh or frozen.
Plants are upright and compact, reaching 15 to 20 inches in height.
‘Gold Mine’ is resistant to bacterial brown spot, mosaic virus, and halo blight.
You’ll be ready to harvest your ‘Gold Mine’ crop in 55 days after planting.
You can find ‘Gold Mine’ seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Burpee.
23. Gold Rush Wax
‘Gold Rush Wax’ is an open-pollinated reliable grower whose beans hold well in the garden – and in the fridge.
This cultivar produces high yields of slender, straight pods that mature in 54 days.
Light yellow pods are five and a half inches long, crisp, and tasty.
Plants grow to 16 to 20 inches tall and are resistant to mosaic virus, curly top virus, root rot, and bacterial brown spot.
You can find ‘Gold Rush Wax’ seeds for purchase in a variety of packet sizes at True Leaf Market.
24. Golden Wax
‘Golden Wax’ is a productive, stringless wax bush bean that is also early to mature – ready to harvest in just 50 days.
This open-pollinated variety produces bright yellow snaps that grow to four to five inches in length, and have a tasty, buttery flavor.
Plants have an upright habit and reach 16 to 18 inches tall with a minimal spread, ideal for container gardening.
‘Golden Wax’ is resistant to mosaic virus and rust.
You can find ‘Golden Wax’ seeds in an assortment of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.
25. Pencil Pod Wax
Here’s an heirloom that’s been proving itself since 1900. ‘Pencil Pod Wax’ is a heavy producer that’s early maturing and disease resistant.
This open-pollinated variety produces abundant harvests of straight pods that reach five to seven inches in length.
‘Pencil Pod Wax’ is known for its tasty yellow snaps that are stringless and tender. They contain black seeds.
Plants reach 20 inches in height, and are resistant to mosaic virus and powdery mildew.
‘Pencil Pod Wax’ will give you your first of multiple crops in 52 days.
You can find ‘Pencil Pod Wax’ seeds for purchase in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers.
Purple Podded Cultivars
If you like the idea of adding some unexpected color to your garden, purple-podded bush beans are a wonderful addition, both as an edible and an ornamental option.
These plants have lovely purple flowers as well.
Just like wax beans, purple podded bush beans stand out from their green foliage, making them easier to see for picking.
And while your harvest will be purple hued, when cooked these beans turn green.
26. Amethyst
‘Amethyst’ is an open-pollinated variety that produces attractive filet style bush beans that are tasty both raw and cooked.
Flavorful purple pods are five to five and a half inches long, thin, straight, and stringless, and they hold tan seeds.
Plants are upright, medium sized, and have excellent resistance to mosaic virus.
‘Amethyst’ reaches maturity in 56 days.
27. Purple Queen
‘Purple Queen’ has a combination of some of the best characteristics of all the bush beans in this list – it’s stringless, early maturing, productive, and disease resistant.
Add to that impressive resume the fact that it’s a beautiful deep purple hue, and you may find this royal cultivar irresistible.
‘Purple Queen’ is an open-pollinated heirloom that produces tender, seven-inch-long snaps with a nice beany taste.
Plants grow to 15 to 20 inches in height, have good general disease resistance, and are tolerant of cooler weather.
‘Purple Queen’ will be ready to harvest in just 52 days after planting.
You can find ‘Purple Queen’ seeds for purchase in 2-ounce packets available at Burpee.
28. Purple Teepee
Despite its name, which might suggest a climber, ‘Purple Teepee’ is a bush variety.
Open pollinated, it produces straight, slender, stringless snaps that are held above the plant for easy picking.
The violet-colored pods should be picked at four to five inches long for the best flavor and texture.
Highly productive plants reach 18 inches in height and come to maturity in 60 days.
29. Royal Burgundy
Living up to its lofty name, ‘Royal Burgundy’ is an overachiever. It has incredible disease and insect resistance, and is even able to germinate in cool soil.
An open-pollinated heirloom introduced in 1976, this cultivar also goes by the names ‘Royal Purple Burgundy,’ ‘Royal Purple Pod,’ and ‘Royal Purple Podded.’
This is an excellent variety for gardeners dealing with cool spring or early summer temperatures, to which it is very tolerant.
Deep purple pods should be harvested at five inches or smaller, when they will be the most tender.
Theses snaps contain tan seeds and they have a mild taste. Plants are dark green with purple tinted stems and petioles, reaching 24 inches in height.
‘Royal Burgundy’ stands up well to Mexican bean beetles, and has good resistance to mosaic virus, powdery mildew, and white mold.
You’ll be gathering your harvest from this regal plant in 50 days.
You can find ‘Royal Burgundy’ seeds available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
30. Velour
Have you been waiting for a purple podded variety to grow in containers? ‘Velour’ is your bean!
‘Velour’ is an open-pollinated, heavy producer of four- to five-inch-long, stringless filet bush beans.
Pods are straight and slender, with a beautiful royal purple color and beige seeds.
These extra fine filet beans have a rich flavor and are excellent for eating fresh or freezing.
Plants are upright, medium sized, and compact, ideal for container gardens.
‘Velour’ has high resistance to both mosaic virus and halo blight, and reaches maturity in 55 days.
Romano Varieties
Also called “Italian green beans,” Romano beans are wide and flat compared to what we commonly think of as green beans.
Popular in Italy, these bush beans are fleshier than snap beans, with more pod to enjoy.
31. Dragon’s Tongue
I’m starting off our Romano bean selection with a colorful variety. ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ is an heirloom that turns yellow with purple streaks when it’s ready to harvest.
This prolific, open-pollinated cultivar is also known as ‘Dragon Tongue,’ ‘Dragon Langerie,’ ‘Merveille du Piemonte,’ and ‘Meraviglia del Piemonte.’
Pods are six to eight inches long and stringless with a thick, tender texture and a sweet, buttery flavor.
Enjoyed raw, these bush beans are crunchy and juicy.
When cooked, ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ will lose its purple streaks, changing color to a solid yellow hue.
Seeds are tan with speckles, and if left on the plant to mature, they can be used as shelling or dry beans.
Plants are on the large size, reaching 24 to 30 inches in height at maturity.
For these plants, more sun exposure will create a more striking bean color, so don’t crowd them, and make sure to provide full sun.
‘Dragon’s Tongue’ will be ready to harvest and enjoy in 60 days.
You can find seeds available in a variety of packet sizes at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
32. Early Bush Italian
‘Early Bush Italian’ is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety that matures early and provides a hefty harvest.
Green pods are flat and stringless, reaching five and a half inches in length, and are ready to harvest in just 50 days.
‘Early Bush Italian’ beans are tender with a robust flavor.
Vigorous plants are 16 to 18 inches tall and have good general disease resistance.
You can find ‘Early Bush Italian’ seeds in 2-ounce packets available at Burpee.
33. Green Crop
‘Green Crop’ is an award-winning Romano bush bean that you’ll appreciate for its abundant and early harvests.
This cultivar, an All-America Selections Winner in 1957, was introduced by the New Hampshire Agricultural Extension Service and the USDA in 1956.
Also known as ‘Greencrop,’ it is open-pollinated, and produces eight-inch-long green pods with white seeds in just 50 to 55 days.
Flat, wide pods are crisp and stringless, and they are extremely tasty whether cooked fresh, frozen, or canned.
Plants grow to 12 to 24 inches in height and are resistant to mosaic virus.
34. Jumbo
Living up to its name, ‘Jumbo’ is an Italian type bush bean that produces heavy yields of extra-long pods.
This open-pollinated cultivar is a cross between ‘Kentucky Wonder’ and ‘Romano.’
Pods are dark green, enclosing cream-colored seeds with dark brown stripes.
Tasty ‘Jumbo’ beans remain stringless up to 10 inches long, but are at their most tender when picked at six to seven inches in length.
Plants are large for bush bean plants and can grow runners, but they do not require staking.
‘Jumbo’ has high resistance to mosaic virus, and will come to maturity in 55 to 60 days.
This variety has lower than average germination rates, so make sure to plant plenty of seeds.
35. Roma II
Our last bush bean for consideration is ‘Roma II.’ This open-pollinated heirloom will give you a large harvest of delicious, stringless, flat Italian beans.
Pods are medium-green colored with white seeds, and are best picked when they are four to five inches long, after 50 to 55 days.
Sweet and nutty in flavor, ‘Roma II’ is a great bush bean for eating fresh and for freezing.
Bushy plants reach 18 inches tall and are resistant to mosaic virus, Northern leaf blight, papaya ring spot, and rust.
You can find ‘Roma II’ seeds in an assortment of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.
Bushwhacking Through the Choices
All these different cultivars may seem like a jungle of bush beans to sort through.
All gardeners have different preferences and growing conditions, so this wide assortment of choices should allow you to find the bush bean variety that will work best in your garden.
Here are a few selections that are on my planting list this summer: ‘Jade’ as a long snap, ‘Royal Burgundy’ as a purple pod, and ‘Gold Rush Wax’ as a yellow pod.
I can’t wait to bring in my colorful harvests and turn them into yummy meals.
Which bush bean varieties are you planting this year? If you have any additional recommendations, please share in the comments section below!
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Great Article!!! Very interesting and the pics are helpful as well! Thank you for all this info!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article! Thanks for letting us know!