The Christmas Pole Lima Bean, once also known as the Calico Lima Bean is an ancient variety of climbing Lima Bean renowned for its fantastic color. This wonderful and hard to find Lima Bean was originally introduced to the United States in 1840 and has been with is ever since. The Christmas Pole Lima is a long season lima bean which is grown primarily for its beautiful seeds which are a light cream color that is variegated in a deep maroon. The plants of this variety are very evasive growers and will reach heights of well over 10 feet, hence supports are very much a necessity. The plants produce an abundance of 4 to 6 inch long bean pods which each contain 4 or 5 of the colored lima beans. The beans can be used either shelled or dry and turn a pink-brown color when cooked. Their taste is characteristic of other Lima Beans; a buttery, rich flavor which is somewhat more mild than other lima bean varieties.

Mature in 85 to 90 days.

Henderson's Bush Lima Bean (also known as "Henderson's Dwarf Lima Bean", "Earliest Bush Lima Bean" and "Henderson's Baby Lima Bean" was first introduced by the Peter Henderson Seed Company in 1888. Two somewhat different legends surround the origin of this wonderful lima bean variety. According to one legend, this bean was found growing wild along a fence on a Virginia roadside by a soldier returning home from the American Civil War in 1865. The second, more detailed legend, states that the bean variety was actually growing along side a Virginia roadside in 1885 by a common laborer. The laborer then sold the seeds he collected from the lima bean variety to T.W. Woods & Son's Company of Richmond, Virginia, who in turn sold the bean stock to Peter Henderson. What is known for fact is that Henderson was responsible for introducing the variety to the public three years later in 1888. Henderson's Bush Lima Bean is the old fashioned standard for lima or wax beans in the United States and will still give any modern lima bean variety a great run for its money nearly 120 years later. 

This old fashioned bean variety is ideal for canning, freezing and drying, which make it ideal all around. This lovely variety features tall, bushy plants which are reliable and early producers and will provide enormous yields of lima beans right up until the first frost. Bush lima beans are very easy to cultivate and this variety will produce a great crop of small, flat, slightly curved, bean pods which contain 3 to 4 plump, buttery flavored lima beans that will dry to an ivory white in color. 

This variety produces earlier than most bean varieties, providing a fine harvest within 60 to 65 days. This great lima bean is drought tolerant and is extremely suitable for the American South. 

The Florida Butter Bean, also known under the names of Florida Speckled Butter Bean and Florida Calico Pole Lima Bean is an 1840's era heirloom Lima Bean from Florida. The variety seems to be closely related to the Christmas Pole Lima Bean, which it resembles.

This excellent variety produces an abundance of three and one half inch long, green pods in clusters, that each contain three or four, medium small, buff colored lima beans with maroon spots or irregular stripes. The vigorous vines of this variety grow up to 10 feet in height and produce exceptionally well over a long season. Though this variety does well in all climates, it performs exceptionally well in hot, humid weather.

The beans may be utilized fresh, frozen or canned and possess a fine, buttery flavor.

Matures in 78 to 82 days.

Goldcrop is a bush type Wax Bean that was originally developed in Prosser, Washington by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1974. Though its immediate breeding ancestry is quite extensive, its dominant ancestors were the varieties Prosser and the famous variety Pencil Pod Wax. The variety is similar to the Kinghorn Wax Bean of commercial fame.

Goldcrop produces small, upright bushy bean plants that are adapted to most areas where snap beans may be grown commercially, and produces an abundance of five to seven inch long, straight, bright yellow stringless pods. The pods are borne high up on the plants and therefore, can be picked by mechanical means for commercial use. The interior feature an excellent quality smooth, white seed.

Resistant to heat, blossom drop, curly top virus and common bean mosaic virus.

The Fordhook Bush Lima Bean is an old lima bean variety that was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Experimental Vegetable Station at Beltsville, Maryland. This wonderful variety was introduced by the W. Atlee Burpee Seeds Company in 1945 and was an All America Selection award winner that same year. The variety takes its name after Fordhook Farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, which was Burpee’s primary vegetable breeding operation.

This popular variety produces sturdy bush type plants that grow 16 to 20 inches in height and produce easily shelled, plump green pods that reveal 3 to 5 greenish-white lima beans. The beans are very large, about the size of a nickel, and possess a rich, old fashioned flavor. The variety is excellent for freezing.

Fordhook Bush Lima Beans are very dependable in northern or maritime climates, but are also very heat tolerant, which makes them ideal just about anywhere.

Matures in 75 to 80 days.

The Jackson Wonder Lima Bean is a great old fashioned heirloom lima bean that originated on the farm of Thomas Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia in 1888. The variety is very popular in the Deep South and is particularly noted for its old fashioned taste, which makes it a strong favorite among Southerners who like lima beans.

Jackson Wonder produces strong, erect bushy plants that reach approximately two feet in height that produce a hearty crop of slightly curved, broad, three inch long, dark green pods. Each pod yields three or four medium sized, buff yellow colored beans that are that are splashed with purple.

Sets beans even in the hottest and driest of conditions. Wonderful used fresh, or as a dry bean.

Matures in 55 to 70 days.

The King of the Garden Pole Lima is an old fashioned, heirloom lima bean that was first introduced in 1883 and has remained very popular ever since. This variety is a very good climber and reaches heights of up to eight feet. Supports of some type, are therefore a necessity, but the extra work of erecting poles or other supports saves precious space in the garden and a great number of plants can be grown in a smaller space than required for the same number of bush varieties.

The fast growing vines are very productive and give a very high yield of dark green, 8 inch long pods. Each pod contains four to six large creamy-yellow colored lima beans. The beans are very plump and possess a fine buttery taste. One of the best choices for using dried.

Matures in 70 to 75 days.

The Speckled Dixie Butter Pea Baby Lima is an excellent Southern variety of baby lima bean that is superior to its white seeded counterpart (described below) in hot weather.

This wonderful baby lima produces bushy, vigorous plants that reach about two feet in height that gives a tremendous yield of slightly curved, four inch long pods. Each pod contains three or four nearly rounded, small reddish-brown beans that are mottled with a darker brown color. Wonderful used fresh or dried.

Adapted to the Deep South and most suited for hot, dry conditions.

Matures in 75 days.

The Thorogreen Lima Bean is a variety of baby bush lima that was bred down from Henderson’s Bush Lima Bean by Ben Fish & Son Seeds Company of Santa Barbara, California. It is similar to the variety Cangreen and was introduced commercially in 1941.

Thorogreen’s small bush-type plants require little space, but produce very heavy yields of small pale green colored lima beans blessed with an exquisite taste.

Adapted to all areas where beans are grown in the United States and Canada.

Matures in 65 days.

The White Dixie Butterpea Baby Lima is an excellent Southern variety of Baby Lima bean or Butterpea and is very popular in the American South where the seed is readily available. It is however, a rarity elsewhere.

This wonderful Baby Lima Bean variety produces sturdy, bush type plants that are 16 to 24 inches in height that are extremely prolific producers of tiny, two inch long pods. Each pod typically reveals three small rounded lima beans. The beans are a pale white in color and feature a truly unique flavor.

The White Dixie Butterpea Baby Lima is one of the few lima beans that regularly re-seeds itself, so volunteers have a tendency to be a problem in some gardens.

Suited for hot, dry climates, where it is an extremely productive producer.

Matures in 75 days.