Tepary Bean

The tepary bean, Phaseolus acutifolius, is a legume native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, grown by native peoples there since pre-Columbian times. It thrives in desert and semi-arid conditions from Arizona through Mexico to Costa Rica and is exceptionally drought tolerant, capable of flourishing in areas receiving less than 400 millimeters of annual rainfall. A traditional food staple that has sustained indigenous communities for millennia, it is considerably more drought resistant than the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, making it valuable for arid agricultural regions, and it continues to be cultivated across Africa, Australia and Asia, where it appears in various regional dishes and snacks.