The Caseknife Pole Bean is one of the oldest documented bean varieties in American gardens, dating to the 1820s. In 1863, Fearing Burr, in The Field and Garden Vegetables of American, said Caseknife was "common to almost every garden." The name refers to its wide flattened, slightly curving mature pod--similar to a dinner knife or knife sheath.

This vigorous climber reaches six to eight feet, and the white flowers yield eight-to-nine-inch, fibrous pods full of plump shelling beans. Plant after the last frost in well prepared, sunny garden soil with a trellis or bean poles for support.

Approximately 10 seeds per pack.

Image courtesy of Terri Keffert.

Line Drawing from New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora by H. A. Gleason (1958).