Pronounced (approximate): stroh-foh-STY-leez HEL-voh-luh
A native twining bean with pink flowers and a distinctly curled floral keel.
Fuzzy Bean (Strophostyles helvola): field photograph. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Fabaceae
Life cycle Annual vine
Blooms Mid-summer–early fall
Height Trailing or climbing several feet
Habitat Sandy open woods, thickets, riverbanks and disturbed ground
Common names: Fuzzy Bean · Trailing Fuzzy Bean · Large Fuzzy Bean
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Sandy open woods, thickets, riverbanks and disturbed ground. Flowering season: Mid-summer–early fall.
Perennial Fuzzy Bean can resemble unlobed forms; compare the small bracts below each flower. Small Fuzzy Bean has smaller flowers and a hairier calyx. No variety is assigned here.
Leaves have three leaflets, which may be lobed or unlobed.
Pink flowers have a broad banner and a narrow keel curling upward.
Long stalks hold small clusters of flowers above the foliage. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
9 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native to central and eastern United States; introduced in some additional areas.
Reported U.S. distribution
AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Fuzzy Bean in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.