Flower profile
Rosary pea
Abrus precatorius
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 May–November.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Florida
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.
- 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 May–November. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 4,660 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #42 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
State flower gift ideas
This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.
🌱 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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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in May–November.
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?
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
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.
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.
More Florida flowers
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.