Groundnut
Apios americana
A native North American vine that produces chains of small purple flowers followed by edible tubers. Highly valued in permaculture for nitrogen fixation, groundcover potential, and nutritious underground nodules resembling groundnuts.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Climber
Vines that climb the layers above on a support.
Succession Role
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida
Function & Care
Edible Parts
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Notable Cultivars
No widely recognized named cultivars exist; wild populations are occasionally collected and grown, with tuber size and flavor varying by source.