Flower profile
Phasey bean
Macroptilium lathyroides
Phasey bean is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Florida
Quick look
Macroptilium lathyroides is a species of plant in the legume family (Fabaceae) commonly known as the phasey bean. It is the type species of genus Macroptilium. Herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial growing up to 1 m high, it is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, and naturalized throughout the tropics.
- It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a annual, biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Florida. NatureServe
- In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,167 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #94 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
Phasey bean gift ideas
Handmade phasey bean gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Phasey bean art print
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Phasey bean greeting card
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Phasey bean mug
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Phasey bean earrings
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Phasey bean embroidery pattern
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Phasey bean sticker
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Florida
- Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records phasey bean in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas.
Florida counties with USDA records: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Escambia, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Sumter, Washington.
More Florida flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MALA9.
- iNaturalist, Macroptilium lathyroides: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Macroptilium lathyroides (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
- Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Macroptilium lathyroides (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Seig via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.