Apios americana

Synonym(s)

(--)

Common Name(s)

American Groundnut

Phonetic Spelling

AY-pee-os a-mer-ih-KAY-na

Description

Common Groundnut is a native perennial vine in the legume family and is found in tidal and non-tidal marshes, wet thickets, stream banks and bottomland forests. It has edible fruits and large edible tubers that provide numerous health benefits. Although the fruit and seeds are edible, it is the tuber that is most desirable but the only place it is cultivated as a food crop is in Japan. The vine can grow 8-16 feet long.

Plant tubers two to three inches deep in the early spring and mulch to stop competition from weeds and grass. Provide the young shoots with something to climb on. After one year of growth, several one-inch-thick tubers can be harvested from each plant. It will grow in sun to partial shade and needs moist conditions, preferring sandy or gravelly loams with some humus added.

The vines and flowers are ornamental enough to grow for their looks but will spread to form colonies and can become weedy.

These are from non-improved (wild) type plants in Northeast Florida.

Family

Fabaceae

Native Range

--

Hardiness Zone(s)

4a --to-- 9b (A note on hardiness, while the species is hardy to 4a these are from NE Florida stock and may not exibit the same hardiness as plants from a more northernly origin.)

Lifespan/Type

Perennial

Habitats

--

Exposure

Full Sun --to-- Part Shade

Growth Habit

Vine

Soil Type

High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Shallow Rocky

Propagation

Seed, Division

Moisture

Moist Occasionally Wet

Salt Tolerance

Low

Recommended Uses

Naturalistic plantings. May become weedy.

Pot Size

4.5in. Pot (24 cu. in.)