Potawatomi Bush Bean, Heirloom, Rare

While indigenous seeds are often passed down orally, this variety entered the formal horticultural record through the Seedsaver's Exchange and was listed by one Ryan McNelly of Maine Medomak Valley High School.  

• This bean stood out to me for the name and possibilities of where it would come from. Sometimes the best way to learn more is to share it broadly. 

The Potawatomi Bush Bean is celebrated at Firefly for its productivity as a dry bean and its distinct seed pattern and growth habit

• Seed Appearance: The seeds are medium-sized and oval. They feature a beige-cream or tan background beautifully patterned with maroon or deep burgundy splashes and speckles.
• Growth Habit: Documented as bush. The beans grow from the top of the plant and produce long pods that as they dry will remind you of a stick so they get the nickname as stick beans. 
• Culinary Use: Primarily used as a dry soup bean. It is known for its "thin-skinned" quality, which allows it to cook down into a creamy consistency without losing its shape. 

Data from heritage trials highlights the bean’s adaptation to the fluctuating climates of the Great Lakes and northern latitudes.

"The Potawatomi Bush Bean is a living link to the agricultural genius of the Great Lakes tribes. It is a 'half-runner' variety, representing the bridge between bush and climbing beans. For the gardener, it offers a high-protein harvest and the opportunity to grow a variety that has been adapted to North American soils for centuries."

If you are conducting further research, you will find this variety listed in the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbooks under the "Bush, Dry" or "Horticultural" categories. It is distinct from the Potawatomi Pole or the Potawatomi Lima, and is specifically valued for its "early-maturing" dry bean status.