The seed are flattened bean shaped pods that are 6 – 10 cm in length. They are bright green when immature and brown when mature. Very young pods can be eaten if cooked.
It grows from Canada south to Florida and west to central Texas. It is native to: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV.
It grows in garden zones 5 – 9.