Featured

Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

New arrivals

What we're loving now

Gifts

Perennials

Trees

Shrubs

Conifers

Ferns

Succulents

Grasses / grass like

Groundcovers

Vines

Herbs, fruits & vegetables

Annuals & Biennials

Bamboos

Palms & cycads

Garden vibe

Flower and fruit colors

Foliage colors

Soil types

Water needs

Gardening with wildlife

Special situations

Sun exposure

Houseplants

Spring flowers

Summer flowers

Fall flowers

Colorful fall foliage

Winter flowers

Winter interest

Evergreens

Distinctive bark

Shop nurseries with current availability

California & southwestern nurseries

Oregon nurseries

Washington nurseries

Midwest nurseries

Northeast nurseries

Southern nurseries

Nurseries outside of the US

Garden Educators

All new arrivals

Perennials

Ferns

Cacti and succulents

Groundcovers

Bulbs, corms and tubers

Epimediums (Fairy Wings)

Hamamelis (Witch Hazels)

Helleborus (Hellebores)

Hostas

Hydrangeas

Acers (Maples)

Magnolias

Gift cards

Air plants

Succulents

Houseplants

All Perennials

Aquatic

Aroids

Bulbs/corms/tubers

All trees

Deciduous

Evergreens

Conifers

Broadleaf

Broadleaf evergreens

Street trees

Fragrant trees

Flowering trees

All shrubs

Deciduous

Evergreens

Conifers

Broadleaf

Broadleaf evergreen

Green flowers

Blue & purple flowers

Black flowers

White flowers

Pink flowers

Red flowers

Orange flowers

Yellow flowers

All conifers

Trees

Shrubs

Groundcovers

Dwarf conifers

Variegated

Rosy tones

Blue / silver foliage

Green foliage

Gold & chartreuse

All ferns

For shade

For sun

Tree ferns

Variegated

Blush tones

Gold and chartreuse

Green

Blue

All cacti & succulents

Hardy cacti & succulents

All bromeliads

For sun

For shade

Houseplants

Variegated

Blush tones

Green

Golds & chartreuses

Silvers / blues

All grasses / grass-like

For sun

For shade

Evergreens

Deciduous

Variegated

Blush foliage

Purple, brown & black foliage

Gold and chartreuse foliage

Green foliage

Blue foliage

All groundcovers

Evergreen

Deciduous

Succulents

For sun

For shade

All vines

For sun

For shade

White flowers

Pink and red flowers

Orange and peach flowers

Yellow flowers

Green flowers

Blue, purple & black flowers

Fruit trees and shrubs

Fruits & vegetable plants

Herbs

All annuals & biennials

All bamboos

All palms and cycads

Tropical style

Cottage garden style

Rock garden

Cutting garden

Woodland garden

Fragrance garden

White flowers

Pink flowers

Red flowers

Orange

Yellow flowers

Green flowers

Blue flowers

Purple flowers

Burgundy flowers

Black flowers

Bronze flowers

Variegated foliage

Pink foliage

Red foliage

Bronze & apricot foliage

Gold foliage

Chartreuse foliage

Green foliage

Wet soil

Clay soil

Acidic soil

Alkaline soil

Lean soil

Gritty soil

Rocky soil

Standing water

Even moisture

Frequent water

Regular water

Occasional water

Low water

Wildlife friendly

Bird friendly

Hummingbird friendly

Butterfly friendly

Bee friendly

Beneficial insect friendly

Good for hedges

Good for trellises

Good for edging

Good for bonsai

Good for containers

Sun

Mostly sun

Bright shade

Dappled shade

Mostly shade

Shade

All houseplants

Aroids

Bromeliads

Bulbs, corms & tubers

Ferns

Orchids

Perennials

Shrubs / small trees

Succulents

Vines

All spring flowers

Trees and shrubs

Annuals and perennials

Cacti and succulents

Groundcovers

Grass-like plants

Vines

Bulbs / corms / tubers

All summer flowers

Trees and shrubs

Annuals and perennials

Cacti and succulents

Groundcovers

Grass-like plants

Vines

Bulbs / corms / tubers

All fall flowers

Trees and shrubs

Annuals and perennials

Cacti and succulents

Groundcovers

Grass-like plants

Vines

Bulbs / corms / tubers

All fall foliage

Trees

Shrubs

Perennials

Conifers

Grass-like plants

Groundcovers

Vines

All winter flowers

Trees and shrubs

Bulbs / corms / tubers

Perennials

All winter interest

Trees

Shrubs

Perennials

All evergreens

All broadleaf evergreens

Broadleaf evergreen trees

Broadleaf evergreen shrubs

Broadleaf evergreen perennials

Broadleaf evergreen groundcovers

Broadleaf evergreen herbs

Broadleaf evergreen vines

All plants with distinctive bark

Trees

Shrubs

Andesite Native Plants

Bloom River Gardens

Cistus Nursery

Conifer Kingdom

Dry Oasis Plants

Gossler Farms

Hydrangeas Plus

Forestfarm

Red Panda Nursery

Waltzing Matilija

Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Cactus Jungle

Digging Dog Nursery

Eden's blooms

Native Sons

Succulent Gardens

The Watershed Nursery

Dancing Oaks Nursery

Daryll's Nursery

Edelweiss Perennials

Flat Creek Nursery

Garden World

Heritage Seedlings

Jockey Hill Nursery

Little Prince

Mini Forest By Sky

Oregon Grown Tree Farms

Briggs Plant Propagators

Desert Jewels Nursery

Far Reaches Farm

Keeping it Green Nursery

Kigi Nursery

Kiona Native Plants

Lael's Moon Garden

Arrowhead Alpines

Boehm's Garden Center

Botanophilia

Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

Avant Gardens

Accents for Home and Garden

jiovi® at Foxgreen Farm

Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

Morrison's Home and Garden

Summersweet Gardens at Perennial Pleasures

Almost Eden

Bat Cave Botanicals

Brantley Palms

Brian's Botanicals

Brushwood Nursery

Edens Blooms

Far South Wholesale

Florida Hill Nursery

Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd. (Canada)

The Ruth Bancroft Garden

Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program

Plant Select®

Trees

Conifers

Fruits and vegetables

Shrubs

Agaves (Century Plants)

Aloe

Opuntias (Prickly Pears)

Sempervivums (Hens and Chicks)

Sedums (Stonecrops)

Acers / Maples

Acer palmatum / Japanese maples

Cornus / Dogwoods

Hamamelis / Witch hazels

Magnolias

Osmanthus

Quercus / Oaks

Stewartias

Arctostaphylos / Manzanitas

Berberis & Mahonias

Buxus / Boxwoods

Camellias

Daphnes

Hamamelis / Witch Hazels

Hebes / Veronicas

Hydrangeas

Magnolias

Rhododendrons & Azaleas

Viburnums

Abies / Firs

Cedrus / Cedars

Chamaecyparis / Cypress

Cryptomeria / Japanese Cedars

Juniperus / Junipers

Picea / Spruces

Pinus / Pines

Taxus / Yews

Thuja / Arborvitaes

Tsuga / Hemlocks

Adiantums / Maidenhair ferns

Athyriums / Lady ferns

Aspleniums / Bird's nests & more

Blechnums / Hard ferns

Dryopteris / Wood ferns

Osmundas

Polypodiums

Polystichums / Shield Ferns

Agaves / Century plants

Aloes

Crassulas

Delospermas / ice plants

Echeverias

Mangaves

Opuntias / Prickly pears

Tillandsias / Air plants

Sedums / stonecrops

Sempervivums / Hens and chicks

Acorus / Sweet flags

Carex / Sedges

Liripoes / Lily Turfs

Ophiopogons / Mondo grasses

Phormiums / New Zealand Flaxes

Spring flowering

Summer flowering

Fall flowering

Winter flowering

Aristolochia / Dutchman's pipe

Hydrangeas

White fruit

Pink fruit

Red fruit

Orange fruit

Yellow fruit

Green fruit

Blue fruit

Purple fruit

Black fruit

Blue foliage

Burgundy foliage

Purple foliage

Black foliage

Fall color

Well-drained soil

Rich soil

Average soil

Adaptable to different soils

Drought tolerant

Dry in winter

Dry in summer

Deer resistant

Slug and snail resistant

Rabbit resistant

Heat tolerant

Humidity tolerant

Pollution tolerant

Seaside / salt tolerant

Erosion control

Wind tolerant

Verticillium wilt resistant

Tillandsias / Air plants

Aloes

Crassulas

Echeverias

Haworthias

Philodendrons

White

Pink

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue and purple

Black

Tan and chocolate

Burgundy

White

Pink

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue and purple

Black

Tan and chocolate

Burgundy

White

Pink

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue and purple

Black

Chocolate and tan

Burgundy

White

Pink

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue and purple

Black

Chocolate and tan

Burgundy

All evergreen conifers

Dwarf conifers

Conifer trees

Conifer shrubs

Conifer groundcovers

Variegated conifers

Silver and blue conifers

Blushing conifers

Gold and chartreuse conifers

Classic green conifers

Maples N More Nursery

Sebright Gardens

Secret Garden Growers

Sunshine Farm and Gardens

Noname Nursery

Oregon Palm Nursery

Pomarius Nursery

Premier Landscaping & Yard Care

Rare Plant Research

Shinglehouse Nursery and Design

Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.

Thicket

Thompson's Nursery

Treephoria

Whitman Farms

Young's Garden Gift & Pond

Rhododendron Species Foundation

The Desert Northwest

Two Green Thumbs Miniatures

Wanderlust Nursery

Maplestone Ornamentals

Old House Gardens

Prairie Nursery

Hewitt Garden and Design Center

jensfarm maples

The Kinsey Family Farm

Paradise Found Nursery

Tidwell Nurseries

Utility Research Garden

Violetsblew

Photo of Apios americana flower by Summersweet Gardens at Perennial Pleasures

Photo by Summersweet Gardens at Perennial Pleasures View Original Photo

Apios americana

Also Known As

Apios americana 'American Groundnut'
Apios tuberosa
Glycine tuberosa
American Ground Nut
Ground Nut

Plant type

perennial, vine, bulb / corm / tuber, fruit / vegetable

size

H: 4'-12'
W: 2'-12'

planting zones

4a-9b

More Options

Apios americana plant details

Apios americana is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber, fruit / vegetable, perennial or vine with green foliage. In summer pink and tan flowers emerge. Attracts bees and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Apios americana

Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber, fruit / vegetable, perennial or vine
Plant family: fabaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 2 FT - 12 FT - wide, 4 FT - 12 FT - tall
Flowers: pink and tan blooms in summer
Uses: cutting garden, fragrant, trellis, vigorous, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Apios americana

USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: heat and humidity
Soil needs: acidic, average, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This interesting vine native to the eastern United States is important historically and also a great addition to the edible landscape! This perennial vine is sometimes called the potato bean, Indian potato, cinnamon vine or American groundnut, among others. Growing from 3-9' long, with bright-green, pinnate leaves in 5-7 leaflets. The unusual pea-like flowers are pink to brown and become edible beans. Remarkably, the plant also produces large edible tubers. The tubers were a large part of the diet of many Native American tribes and were also a staple food of the pilgrims. The tubers are reminiscent of potatoes and must be cooked before they are eaten. This is a wonderful and nutritious vine to add to the edible, native or historical garden. S-PSh/M-W

By: Forestfarm

American Groundnut is a good-looking native vine that produces fragrant flowers and edible tubers. Native throughout the eastern states, it was an important food resource for Native Americans and early colonists, and the high-protein tubers may be boiled, roasted or sauted in many ways (they are not recommended raw). A fine plant for permaculture gardens. It is a vigorous grower, and will rapidly spread underground, so give it plenty of space. Pinkish-brown 2 inch flowers emerge in mid-summer on herbaceous vines that will reach to 8 ft. Culture -- good sun to a little shade, in deep friable soil. We will ship a "necklace" of young tubers, which should be planted horizontally, about 3 inches deep.

By: Summersweet Gardens at Perennial Pleasures

I first saw this growing in the wild while kayaking with the family on Broad River in Georgia. My first thought was "look at that marvelous red Wisteria" until I realized it was Ground Nut; Apios americana. The beautiful clusters of red flowers were hanging gently over a quiet edge of the river. I knew its wonderful history as a staple crop of the Native Americans and how it helped early European settlers survive, but I never expected it to be so pretty in person! Easy to grow and good in wet areas, Apios americana is an herbaceous perennial twiner with clusters of up to a dozen little flowers and a long bloom season. Its native habitat runs from the Gulf of Mexico all the way deep into New England and out to the Midwest. Bloom Season: June to Sept. Scent: lightly sweet. Flower Size: 1/2 in. each. Origin: Eastern US Native, Groundnut.