Apios Species, American Potato Bean, Ground Nut
Apios americana
Family: | Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Apios (A-pee-os) (Info) |
Species: | americana (a-mer-ih-KAY-na) (Info) |
Synonym: | Apios americana var. turrigera |
Synonym: | Apios tuberosa |
Synonym: | Glycine apios |
Category:
Edible Fruits and Nuts
Perennials
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements:
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Where to Grow:
Can be grown as an annual
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Maroon/Burgundy
Brown/Bronze
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Huntsville, Alabama
Opelika, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut
New Milford, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Pomfret Center, Connecticut
Satellite Beach, Florida
Kingston, Georgia
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Auburn, Maine
Brookeville, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Erie, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sturgis, Mississippi
Concord, New Hampshire(2 reports)
Conway, New Hampshire
Newport, New Hampshire
Mechanicville, New York
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Hamptonville, North Carolina
Athens, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
Bowling Green, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Anderson, South Carolina
Cumberland City, Tennessee
Waco, Texas
Point Roberts, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jun 15, 2016, Tiffit65 from Newport, NH (Zone 5a) wrote: Last fall, I found these growing along the river behind my house. I dug a few of the bulbs up, and planted them along the side of garden steps that go down into the woods. They are doing very well, considering the sandy soil they are in. I have trellises for them to grow up, and hope they grow high enough to cover the ugly knotweed that I can't seem to get rid of! They also add a new color to that area, as they are behind my spiderwort. |
Neutral | On Jun 12, 2015, cosmicaug from Winter Park, FL wrote: Shouldn't the USDA hardiness go all the way up to 10b based on the map at http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=892 ? |
Negative | On Jun 3, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: I've only dealt with this as a weed, when it appeared among perennials in the garden (Boston, MA Z6a). It twines around existing plants and makes a tremendous nuisance of itself. I found I could never dig out all of the tubers once they'd gotten established in the crowns of perennials. Glyphosate herbicide was the solution. That meant sacrificing many of the perennials. I wouldn't recommend growing this except in a bed by itself. |
Negative | On Jun 3, 2014, Tgreg from New Milford, CT wrote: This plant suddenly appeared in a garden of phlox, day lilies, and a few peonies (other spring plants that are too early for it) a few years ago. I live in CT and agree with pfg that it is a nuisance. It wraps around the phlox and chokes the top where the buds form. If you try to just pull it off, you strip the leaves and terminal bud from the phlox. You have to unwind each from the top down and then pull up. And they still come back, but maybe not until phlox have bloomed. They form entwined mats that cover all the plants as well. I have no idea how I got these nor how to get rid of them. Be careful if you choose to grow these! |
Positive | On Mar 29, 2014, Gessepi29 from HAMPTONVILLE, NC wrote: Love this plant. Not invasive in my zone, and looks great along side the creek in my yard. |
Positive | On May 14, 2013, SteveOh from Cherry Grove, OH (Zone 6b) wrote: A delicate-looking twiner with attractive flowers and tasty tubers, Apios Americana prefers sunny, moist locations and really thrives if given something to get it off the ground. The vines never seem to grow more that 6' in my area, and will grow along the ground with reduced vigor if it has nothing to climb. |
Positive | On Mar 13, 2013, guygee from Satellite Beach, FL wrote: The tubers of this plant are delicious and grow prolifically in my garden. The tubers are analyzed to have a protein content of about three times that of potato. The flowers are beautiful as well. I have built an 8 foot high trellis and have had these plants growing for three years now. This species is native from Florida north all the way into Canada. The type I have are fertile diploids that yield viable seed from which I have successfully germinated new plants. |
Negative | On Jun 13, 2011, Pfg from (Pam) Warren, CT (Zone 5b) wrote: This plant is a nightmare in my garden, the bane of my existence, growing unchecked for years before my arrival. The pods have imbedded themselves deep in the root crowns of Siberian Iris and Daylilies, grow up everywhere and weigh the foliage down into an unsightly mess. I've cleared out beds and dug down- it re-roots from tne whisper of a shred of root...Roundup kills it eventually but I've been working on one bed I cleared nearly a year ago and it's still coming up. I won't re-plant until I'm sure it's gone. No flower is worth it! |
Positive | On Sep 26, 2008, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: I really like this plant. I have it growing again the brick wall of my house, bordered by the concrete pathway to the door so it's well contained. The soil isn't great quality there and it doesn't go very deep but the plant does well, rewarding me with lots of flowers. This is only the second year so I can't comment on the edible qualities. |
Neutral | On Feb 10, 2007, DruidNH from Conway, NH wrote: This plant can be very invasive. I have to tear it out by the bushel to keep it from smothering my shrubs. I rated it as a neutral because it's decorative, easy to grow and not particular about soil. The tubers are edible, but small. |
Neutral | On Nov 28, 2006, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Groundnut, Potato Bean Apios americana is native to Texas and other States. |
Positive | On Sep 12, 2006, jeri11 from Central, LA (Zone 8b) wrote: This plant is beautiful but aggressive. I wanted it to cover a fence and it is covering a large clump of pampas grass. It dies back to the ground in winter and comes back faithfully. |
Positive | On Jun 19, 2005, tigeress from Norwich, CT wrote: Until a year ago I had no clue what this vine was. It was always there. I love it. It is delicate and very abundant. Thanks to your comments I now know how to move them and give them away. They are literally coming up in my lawn and I hate just weeding them and killing them. They are very invasive, but they such a nice touch to my garden that I do not like killing them. |
Neutral | On Aug 30, 2004, NatureWalker from New York & Terrell, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: Physical Characteristics: Perennial growing to 1.2 meters. It is hardy to zone 3. It is in leaf from April to November, in flower from June to September. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. |