A heat-loving pole lima with slender willow-like leaves and small, flavorful white-to-buff butterbeans. Famous for thriving and bearing in the hottest part of Southern summer when other beans quit.
The Willow Leaf earned its keep by bearing through brutal Southern heat, providing fresh protein deep into a punishing summer. For Black gardeners working the land in that heat, a bean that didn't give up was a bean worth saving.
A potassium- and magnesium-rich small lima supporting blood-pressure regulation, with abundant soluble fiber and resistant starch for cholesterol and glucose control. Folate and iron support blood health. Its heat tolerance means a dependable late-summer fresh protein when gardens are otherwise sparse — nutritional security in the hardest growing weeks.
Soak dried beans and simmer 50-70 minutes; fresh limas cook in 25-35 minutes. The small seeds cook creamy and tender. Cook fully until soft — never raw.
Free, no account needed to ask.