The plant is an annual trailer, with broad, ovate bean-like leaves. Pods are 2 to 3 inches long, somewhat rectangular in cross section, fleshy when immature. Winged pea is grown for the edible pods, and for the seeds, which are roasted as a substitute for coffee.
Exposure is similar to that of snap or field beans.
There are no data on production in the U.S., but it is very slight.