Apios americana (American Groundnut) Unity Grown

Apios americana, commonly known as American groundnut, potato bean, or cinnamon vine, is a native perennial vine in the pea family (Fabaceae) found in wetter areas with full to part sun. Noted for its attractive and lightly fragrant pea-like flowers in shades of rose pink to deep maroon red which bloom from mid-summer to early fall, American groundnut also produces edible bean-like fruits and tuberous roots, which have a nutty flavor and a consistency similar to potatoes. Care should be taken in choosing a planting location for Apios americana, as individual vines may reach heights of up to 15' long or tall.

Performing best in full sun to part shade, Apios americana has high water requirements, and can be found in nature on streambanks and in lowland forests or marshes. Though its vining behavior can become weedy over time, the plants edible parts and attractive flowers make it a popular choice for ornamental growing on trellises and fences, or informally on rock walls. Flowers are highly attractive to a number of pollinators, including the southern cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus), an attractive brown skipper butterfly found on the Eastern Shore; in addition to the caterpillars it hosts, groundnut seedpods are also attractive to a number of songbirds.