Flower profile

Rosary pea

Abrus precatorius

Rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) is a vine in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly August–October across the U.S.

Not native to Florida

Rosary pea is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in August–October.

5states where USDA records it

4,660FL sightings*

4,668U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Florida. It's on that state' official invasive plant list (Florida: Noxious weed (sale prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{FAC 5B-57.007}

Quick look

Abrus precatorius, commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is a slender, perennial climber with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges.
From Wikipedia's article Abrus precatorius, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Fabaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a vine with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–October. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,660 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #45 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in August–October.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (66 records)

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?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, roots, seeds. Symptoms they list: “All parts are posoinous but its the seeds that are most often ingested. Once eaten there can be a delay of hours or days: nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, tremors, high heart rate, fever, shock, burning in throat; later ulcerative lesions…” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Rosary Pea” (Abrus precatorius) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Severe vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody), tremors, high heart rate, fever, shock, death. Seeds are very toxic (seed coat must be… ^ASPCA

🌿 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 rosary pea in 5 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii.

Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Volusia.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Abrus abrus.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 34 counties across 3 states; the most are in Florida (28), Hawaii (4), Palau (2).

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

More Florida flowers

Eastern coral bean

Erythrina herbacea

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–May

Partridge pea

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: June–September

Butterfly pea

Centrosema virginianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: May–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ABPR3.
iNaturalist, Abrus precatorius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Abrus precatorius (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, Abrus precatorius (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Josiah Londerée via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.