Edible. The immature seedpods either raw or cooked have a pleasant, mild flavour and are widely used as a vegetable in many areas of the world. The immature seed is used like shelled beans as a vegetable. The protein-rich mature seeds can be dried and stored for future use. They need to be thoroughly cooked before being eaten in order to destroy a toxic principle. They are soaked for 12 hours prior to use and are eaten boiled or added to soups etc. The seed can also be ground into a powder and added to cereal flours for making protein-enriched bread etc. The flowers can be eaten raw and have a bean-like taste. The young leaves can be cooked and used as a potherb and the cooked root is rich in starch.

Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Phaseolus+coccineus

In traditional medicine a root decoction is taken against malaria or applied to swollen eyes.

Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Phaseolus+coccineus

Southern America, Central America, Guatemala

Southern America, Central America, Honduras

Southern America, Central America, Nicaragua

Southern America, Central America, Panamá

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Gulf

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Central

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Northeast

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Northwest

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Southeast

Northern America, Mexico, Mexico Southwest