Phaseolus vulgaris
Origin: Eben's Prairie, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Washington
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~35
Germination tested 01/2026: 94%
Life cycle: Annual
Rockwell' is a rare heirloom bush bean maintained by a few families in the Ebey's Prairie section of Coupeville, on Whidbey Island in Washington state. It was named for early settler Elisha Rockwell, who is said to have brought the bean to Whidbey. Beloved by Seattle chefs, this bean is especially excellent for baked beans. As the photos show, it's a mainly white bean hite bean with large maroon and pink splotch around hilum. Known among growers in the Pacific Northwest for being able to germinate well even in cool soil (a trait that is quite unusual for beans).
This seed comes from our friend Hank Keogh of Avoca Seed Farm near Corvallis, Oregon
GROWING TIPS: Direct sow once soil begins to warm in the spring (when you might plant sweetcorn). This is a bush type bean, so it needs no trellis. Space plants 8-12 inches apart.
