PlantFiles: Adzuki Bean
Vigna angularis

The Yellow Snail Vine aka Adzuki, Vigna angularis is cousin to the Corkscrew Vine, Vigna caracalla and Snail Vine, Vigna Phaseolus caracalla. Unlike it’s cousins, it flowers very early. The flowers are very small, about the size of a large pea and have the tubular structure which is not as apparent as the other two as it is enclosed by two petals like a clam. I did not notice a fragrance. The first two buds were cleistogamic, meaning they did not open and self fertilized. The unopened buds fell off and pods were present. The leaves are like the caracalla and phaseolus, but about 2 to 3 times larger. This plant also produces EFN's (extra flora nectaries).

This is the bean commonly called simply "Red Bean" by the Chinese. It's most often used as a paste, in desserts. The beans make a delicious sweet-rice-and-bean dessert dumpling. They also make good ice cream, and are the flavoring in 'Red Bean ice cream', which you can find in most chinatowns and chinese food groceries.

It took me a while to find these, actually, as noone I knew (all Chinese, not other asian) knew them as 'Adzuki' beans - only as 'Red Bean'. Even in Chinese, that's the name for them.

A very tasty bean, with a wide variety of uses.

Azuki,
also known as Adsuki, Aduki, Asuki, Adzuki, Chi Dou (Mandarin), Feijao, Field Pea, Hong Xiao Dou (Mandarin), Red Oriental, Tiensin Red

Legume, mostly used in Japan; introduced from China ca 1000 years ago.
Bushy.

Matures in 110-120 days; longer than most beans.

Needs cool nights for best production, but does not tolerate frost.

Commercialy grown for export to Japan in Minnesota & Michigan; harvested in mid September.
When planted in September in North Florida, vigorous plants with 20-30 pods were obtained by mid-November.

Similar climatic & soil requirements to soybean or drybean.

Brownish pods, 1/8x5", contains 7-10 small, (most often) red/maroon seeds, pods may pop open, so be cautious when harvesting.

Highly nutricious & low in fat, the Azuki beans may be eaten fresh or dried. Often used in desserts in Asia. In Europe/US it's a popular bean for sprouting.

Azuki beans were grown on the Mir Space Station as part of an experiment, and were reported to do well in low gravity.

Formerly Azuki belonged to the genus Phaseolus, but it has recently been transferred to the genus Vigna.

Reported to be pest tolerant, but my Azukis are fiercely nibbled on!