Phaseolus lunatus

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Snow on the Mountain is a pole lima bean with deep Southern roots, passed down through the family of Reverend Roy Blount of Louisiana since the 1880s and likely dating back to the 1860s. Sometimes referred to as “Sieva” or butterbean, this heirloom has been preserved for generations thanks to its impressive productivity and standout seed appearance. The seeds display a pale pink to purple base, dramatically overlaid with white, giving the appearance of snowy peaks which inspired the variety's name.

These beans are a classic in Southern kitchens, prized both as shellies and dried beans. The mature dry beans are notably sweet with a distinct walnut-like flavour, making them excellent for soups, stews and savoury bakes. Fresh pods can be harvested young for a tender texture, while the dried beans are easy to store and cook evenly.

For successful germination, sow seeds directly into warm, moist soil only after the last frost has passed. Lima beans are sensitive to cold, so ensure consistent temperatures above 18 °C. Seeds should be planted 2–3 cm deep and spaced 10–15 cm apart, with rows about 60 cm wide. Germination takes 7 to 18 days and like most limas, Snow on the Mountain benefits from full sun and loose, well-drained soil.

As a vigorous climbing variety, this bean grows up to 1.5 m tall and thrives with trellis or other vertical support. Plants flower prolifically with white blooms, and pods, each typically holding three to four seeds, ripen in about 80 days. While slower to mature than some other lima types, they compensate with consistent yields deep into autumn. Regular harvesting encourages further pod production and supports healthy plant development.

For best results and nitrogen fixation, treat seeds before planting with SoyGro BeanFlo, a rhizobial inoculant specially formulated for Phaseolus beans. This ensures robust early growth, improved resilience and a strong root system that naturally supports healthy cropping.

Standard packet contains approx. 25 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 10 seeds