Plant Details

Vicia faba

Horsebean

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Vicia faba.

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Common names

47 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Horsebean
Other languages (33)
Dutch
  • Tuinbonen
  • tuinboon[1]
French
Arabic
Asturian
  • Fhaba de mayo[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • bob obecný[1]
Danish
  • Hestebønne[1]
Estonian
Finnish
  • härkäpapu[1]
German
Greek
Hebrew
  • בקיה (פול)[1]
Hungarian
Indonesian
  • Kacang Babi[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • シガツマメ[1]
  • ソラマメ[1]
  • トウマメ[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji pupa[1]
Nahuatl
Norwegian
  • bønnevikke[1]
Otomi
Polish
Portuguese
Purepecha
Russian
  • Боб садовый[1]
  • Русские бобы[1]
Slovak
  • bôb obyčajný[1]
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
  • ถั่วปากอ้า[1]
Totonaco
Turkish
Ukrainian
Zapoteco
  • bizaa-roo-xtilla[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Vicia faba — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • fava bean — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Broad bean — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • horse bean — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • a'hua'x — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • bizaa-roo-xtilla — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • da-ku — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Haba — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • jaasi — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • ohuox — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Paprastoji pupa — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Fava — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Faveira — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Fève — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • bob obecný — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • põlduba — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Fhaba de mayo — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • bønnevikke — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • tuinboon — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • härkäpapu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • 蠶豆 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Saubohne — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • ソラマメ — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • トウマメ — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • シガツマメ — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • ナツマメ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • فول — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • باقلاء — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Hestebønne — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • 蚕豆 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Κουκιά — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Φάβα — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • bondböna — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Fava — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Боб садовый — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Kacang Babi — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Wyka bób — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Bób — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • lóbab — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Біб — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • בקיה (פול) — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • ถั่วปากอ้า — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • 空豆 — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • bôb obyčajný — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Bakla — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.
  • Русские бобы — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 57309; Vicia faba.

General information

Scientific name: Vicia faba
Accepted name (Kew): Vicia faba L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Vicia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Horsebean
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Seeds of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are suitable for consumption before they are fully ripe, like broad beans. Ripe seeds must first be soaked overnight and can then be cooked. The leaves of this plant can be cooked and serve as a substitute for spinach.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 178871; name ID 2452522; Vicia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 580574; name ID 2452318; Vicia faba L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Vicia faba

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2758721, ID 7G2QH: Vicia faba L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Vicia faba — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pH
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH

    Source checked on .