Dixie Butterpea

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Velvety, buttery-sweet pods give way to large, creamy lima beans with a rich, mellow flavor that feels like sunshine on the palate.

Dixie Butterpea’s tender, meaty texture holds its shape beautifully, making it a standout for comforting bean dishes, silky purees, and hearty soups—plus it’s wonderful for fresh-shelling when you want that just-picked creaminess. Grow it for a dependable 95-day rhythm and a harvest that tastes as good as it looks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Dixie Butterpea

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Dixie Butterpea leans into that fresh, buttery lima character—meaty enough not to collapse, creamy enough to puree into velvet. Use it in dishes where you want the beans to stay spoon-worthy (not grainy) and let butter, stock, and aromatics do the heavy lifting.

Best Uses

fresh-shelling and boiling until just creamy, then finishing with salt and butter
silky lima-bean purée (blend smooth, then loosen with hot stock)
hearty soups/stews where the beans stay intact
baked or braised bean dishes with a thick, spoonable sauce

Flavor Profile

buttery-sweet, mellow bean flavor creamy, custardy interiors tender-meaty pods and beans that hold their shape gentle, comforting finish

Kitchen Pairings

chicken stock bacon or ham garlic lemon zest butter black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common pest or disease for Phaseolus lunatus (Dixie butterpea), and how do I manage it?

Watch for webbing and sap loss from spider mites during hot, dry spells; leaves can look dusty or stippled and may dull or yellow. Rinse plants with a strong spray of water, keep soil evenly moist (mites worsen with drought stress), and repeat treatments every 3–5 days until you see fewer mites. Also monitor for fungal leaf spot after humid periods—remove badly affected leaves early and water at the soil line to keep foliage drier.

How often should I water Dixie butterpea during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod-filling (roughly mid-season to harvest), keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for watering when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry out. In full sun, this is often about 1–2 times per week, but adjust so you never see plants wilting for long stretches. Avoid standing water because Phaseolus lunatus is prone to root and crown issues in waterlogged beds.

How can I tell when Dixie butterpea is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are fully formed and the beans inside have reached their characteristic buttery size—typically around 90–100 days (Dixie butterpea is ~95 days). For fresh, tender beans, pick pods before they dry hard; for dry beans, leave pods on the plant until the foliage is mostly dry and pods rattle when shaken. Taste-test one bean early in the window—if it’s creamy-tender, harvest the rest promptly to prevent toughening.