Can I grow this indoors?

It is not recommended due to the extreme toxicity of the seeds.

Is it safe to touch the seeds?

Touching intact seeds is generally safe, but they should never be broken or ingested.

Plant guide

Rosary pea.

Abrus precatorius

Pronounced AY-brus pre-ka-TOR-ee-us

Also known as Crab's Eye, Indian-licorice, Indian-liquorice, Jumbi Bead, Jumbie Beads, Jumby Beans, Liquorice Plant, Luckybean Creeper

Abrus precatorius — Photo by Cheryl Stinchcomb (CC BY) via gbif

The rosary pea is a beautiful but highly dangerous climbing vine known for its striking red and black seeds. It is native to tropical regions and often grows as an invasive weed in warmer climates. You should handle this plant with extreme caution due to the potent toxins found in its seeds.

Another photo of Rosary pea — Photo by Diogo Luiz (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial vine
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 12
Bloom time: Late summer to early autumn

Care

Provide a sturdy trellis for this vigorous climber to support its rapid growth. Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to mimic its tropical home. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or poor drainage.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to maintain the desired size and shape.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the pot.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are toxic, but the seeds contain abrin, a potent ribosome-inactivating protein that is fatal if chewed or swallowed.
Pets: This plant is extremely toxic to both cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: The bright red seeds are highly attractive to children and pose a severe, life-threatening poisoning risk if ingested.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant evidence of airborne allergen risk.
Edibility: The seeds are extremely toxic and lethal if ingested.

How to identify it

Pinnately compound leaves with many leaflets
Small pale pink or purple flowers
Distinctive bright red seeds with black spots
Slender woody climbing stems

Height: 3 to 6m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: pink, white, lavender, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: red, black, Autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Root RotCommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon
CaterpillarsRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: Spring

Keep this plant isolated from other garden areas to prevent its aggressive vining habit from overtaking your landscape.

Grows well with

Hibiscus · They share similar tropical light and moisture requirements.

Similar species

Coral bean · It also produces striking red seeds that are toxic.

Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Abrus
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical regions of Asia.
Conservation: This plant is considered an invasive weed in many tropical regions and should not be encouraged in those areas.

It thrives in disturbed tropical habitats by climbing over other plants to reach sunlight.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental, historical weight standard

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this indoors?: It is not recommended due to the extreme toxicity of the seeds.
Is it safe to touch the seeds?: Touching intact seeds is generally safe, but they should never be broken or ingested.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Abrus comes from the Greek word for delicate, while the species name precatorius refers to its use in prayer beads.

Good to know

The seeds are often called rosary peas.
It is a climbing vine that can quickly smother native vegetation.
The plant belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your rosary pea growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.