Groundnut

Groundnut (Apios americana) is a vigorous perennial vine native to North America, valued for its edible underground tubers and nutritious beans. The tubers grow in bead-like chains, are high in protein and starch, and were an important traditional food of Indigenous peoples. Easy to grow, groundnut thrives in sun to partial shade and can climb 6–10 feet with support.

As a member of the legume family, groundnut forms symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria to fix nitrogen, improving soil health and fertility for surrounding plants. In a food forest, it can be grown as a productive climber in the shrub or tree layer, where it uses vertical space efficiently while also enriching the soil below.

Plants spread readily by underground tubers, so they’re best managed in a contained bed or allowed room to naturalize. Once established, they provide a reliable and resilient perennial food source. Beyond their unique flavour and nutrition, groundnuts attract pollinators with clusters of reddish-brown flowers, support soil-building, and add both beauty and function to food gardens and food forests.

Common names: Groundnut, Ground nut, American groundnut, Indian potato, Hopniss, Wild bean, Potato bean

Edible: Tubers
Harvest timing: Late fall-winter

Scientific name: Apios americana
Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
Full-grown size: 6-10' long vine
Hardiness: Zone 3
Pollination: Self-fertile, but pollination not required for tuber formation.
Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Tubers may be of interest to rodents if left in the ground unprotected.
Origin: Native to eastern and central North America, traditionally cultivated and eaten by many Indigenous peoples.
Noteworthy: Produces edible, protein-rich tubers as well as edible beans. Nitrogen fixer.