AgricultureID

Cultivar · Common bean market class

Red kidney bean

Also known as: Dark red kidney, Light red kidney

Red kidney is a common bean market class with large, kidney-shaped red seed from the Andean gene pool, spanning dark and light red types. It is a seed-type class of many cultivars, not one variety.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Record

Cultivar / variety
Variety of
Common Bean
Botanical taxon
Phaseolus vulgaris
Type
Market class / landrace group
Breeding method
Self-pollinated market class (comprising many cultivars)
Origin
Andean gene pool
Registry status
Historical
Adaptation
Warm-season, frost-sensitive common bean; flowering and pod set are vulnerable to heat stress. Well-drained loams; sensitive to waterlogging and compaction.
Intended use
Dry culinary bean (for example, stews, chili, salads, and canning)

Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.

Red kidney is a market class of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) defined by a large, kidney-shaped, red seed. It includes recognized dark red and light red sub-types and is used as a dry culinary bean in stews, chili, salads, and canned products.

As with other bean classes, "red kidney" names a seed type rather than a single cultivar, and many individually named cultivars are bred within it. Unlike the pinto and navy classes, red kidney is generally classified within the Andean gene pool of common bean, one of the two major gene pools that reflect the crop’s independent domestications.

A market class, not a single cultivar

Red kidney is a market class — a seed-type category — within the single species Phaseolus vulgaris. It groups cultivars that share a large red kidney-shaped seed (in dark and light red forms), while those cultivars differ in growth habit, maturity, and other traits.

Seed type and gene pool

The red kidney class is recognized by its large, kidney-shaped red seed, with dark red and light red sub-types marketed separately. Common bean is divided into Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools; red kidney is generally placed in the Andean gene pool, which is typically associated with larger-seeded bean types.

  • Seed: large, kidney-shaped, red (dark and light red)
  • Species: Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean)
  • Gene pool: Andean
  • Use: dry culinary bean (stews, chili, canning)

Cultivation context

As common beans, red kidney cultivars are warm-season and frost-sensitive, with flowering and pod set vulnerable to heat stress, and perform best on well-drained loams. Growth habit, maturity, and management vary by cultivar and region and are not reduced to universal values here.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Adapted to soil

Related topics

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: A globally grown dry-bean class. Agronomy and performance depend on the specific cultivar and local conditions.

Climate context: Warm-season, frost-sensitive common bean class; heat at flowering reduces pod set.

  • Red kidney is a market class (seed type), not a single registered cultivar; it encompasses many cultivars that differ agronomically.
  • Gene-pool classification (Andean) is a general placement; individual materials can vary.
  • No release year, breeder, resistance, or yield is asserted for the class; such claims belong to individual cultivar records.
  • Culinary preparation and food-safety handling are outside the scope of this agronomy-focused record.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) germplasm and market-class documentation

    Type:
    Official registry
    Jurisdiction:
    United States / Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]CGIAR — Global agricultural research partnership (opens in a new tab)

    CGIAR

    High

    Cited for: Common bean gene-pool classification (Andean and Mesoamerican) and germplasm research

    Type:
    Research institute
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]CABI Digital Library — Crop Protection Compendium (opens in a new tab)

    CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International)

    High

    Cited for: Common bean crop and seed-type context

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

Related topics

Soil Health