|
Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Apios americana
The Groundnut is a native vine with a wonderful history and excellent uses. First of all, it has been an important food plant throughout recorded history. Native Americans and early colonists relished the perennial, edible roots because they could be harvested at any time of the year. This plant is often found still growing around the sites of previous Native American villages. They are starchy, tasty when cooked and salted, and contain three times as much protein as potatoes. They can also be roasted, boiled, powdered into flour—the sky is the limit. The seeds are also edible and may be cooked like peas and beans for a protein-rich side dish. Groundnut, or Potato Bean, has met with several unsuccessful attempts to fully domesticate it as a major food crop, mainly because suitable tubers take 2-3 years to develop. With that said, it still remains a novel and exciting source of food for modern gardeners. Seed crops are produced annually until the tubers can be divided. It is easily added to a vegetable garden and, once established, is much more drought tolerant than other crop plants. Being a legume, it even helps enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen gas from the air.
Unlike typical crop plants, Potato Bean is extremely ornamental, making an excellent companion plant to other native vines like Virginia Creeper, Coral Honeysuckle, Red Morning Glory, and Trumpet Creeper. When used in tandem, they provide a spectacular variety of red blooms and lush foliage throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Virginia Creeper’s blood-red fall color finishes the mix off in a grand finale.
A crop plant that gives back to the soil and looks astonishing…? Virtually unheard of!
Fabaceae/Leguminosae (Bean/Legume)
Groundnut is a tuberous, perennial vine that climbs by twining rather than attachment. Leaves are alternate and pinnate, with 3-7 leaflets. Leaflets are rounded at the base and lanceolate toward the apex, with light-green venation. Flowers are reddish brown to purple, pea-shaped, and are produced in dense, conical racemes. The fruit is a legume, 2 to 4” long.
Up to 10 feet long vertically or horizontally
Twining, herbaceous perennial, tuberous vine
Fast
Full sun preferred; flowering, fruiting, and tuber enlargement decreased by shade
Groundnut can be grown either as an annual or perennial. Staking may be useful when growing the plant for edible purposes or to maximize space. Seed yield is greater if the plant is allowed to climb. Weed control is necessary for good yields of pods and tubers. The primary requirement of Potato Bean is adequate light.
Potato Bean is a highly ornamental crop as well as an edible one. Its pea-shaped flowers range from brown to red to purple and are borne in magnificent racemes throughout late summer.
Potato Bean is a useful plant that readily climbs all types of supports. It may be trained up a variety of surfaces like trellises, fences, porches and decks, or allowed to naturalize on the edge of a wooded area. Make sure to employ guide strings for the vine to twine around, since it cannot attach via aerial roots.
Potato Bean is a foliar host for the caterpillars of the Dreamy Dusky Wing, Southern Cloudy Wing, Long-tailed Skipper, and Silver-spotted Skipper. The inflorescences attract butterflies, bees, and other nectariferous insects throughout late summer. The foliage is very nutritious and often browsed by deer.
Potato Bean ranges throughout North America throughout the Midwest and East. It occurs from Florida west to Texas, north to Minnesota, and further Northeast to Quebec and Ontario. It favors woodland edges and moist thickets.
Seed, cuttings for cultivars
Also known as
Potato Bean,
Hog Peanut,
Indian Potato,
Hopniss,
Earthnut
Written by Kevin Tarner, Georgia Wildlife Federation
Photos courtesy George H. Bruso, Mrs. DW Bransford, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
|
