It is also the source of concanavalin A. C. ensiformis is a twining plant up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height.

For this reason C. ensiformis has been investigated as a potential source of the urease enzyme.

As a garden plant, it can grow to over 2 meters, provided it gets enough nutrients, rich soil, sun and warmth.

It grows therefore in rich soil, or use extra nutrients, in a sunny warm place.

They include many that are misleading or ambiguous, being derived from comparing the common jack bean to plants with similar seeds or fruit: they thrive in warm, sunny, places with much water or rain.