Photo: Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)Public domainvia Wikimedia Commons
Rosary Pea Plant Care
Abrus precatorius L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Abrus precatorius, commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is a slender, perennial climber with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Rosary Pea?
Rosary Pea grows best in full sun to partial shade. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Rosary Pea?
Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Abrus genus. Rosary Pea is also known as Crab's Eye, Jequirity Bean, Precatory Bean.
Rosary Pea displays a vining, climbing growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Rosary Pea produces small, red or purple pea-like flowers.
What Light Does the Rosary Pea Need?
Rosary Pea thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Rosary Pea?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Rosary Pea to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Rosary Pea?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Rosary Pea?
Rosary Pea can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings.
Is the Rosary Pea Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Rosary Pea?
Rosary Pea is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Rosary Pea is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Abrus genus — compare its care with other Abrus species on PlantoScan.
Abrus is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Rosary Pea thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Abrus precatorius L., family Fabaceae (first published in Syst. Nat. ed. 12 , 2: 472 (1767)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Rosary Pea is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Forest & Kim Starr (USGS), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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