Groundnut

Apios americana

Climber1.8×3.5 mzone 3–10partial shade🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Groundnut is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Fabaceae
Habit: Climber
Height: 1.8 m
Spread: 3.5 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 15 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 3–10
Shade tolerance: partial shade
Soil: Sand, Silt
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5.6 – 7.6

scented

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible8 of 10

Medicinal1 of 10

Other uses3 of 10

Origin & habitat

North America – Pennsylvania. Occasionally naturalised in Southern Europe.

Usually found in moist lowlands or riparian woodlands and thickets, often also near old Native American camp sites.

Frequently asked questions

Groundnut: how big does it get?

Groundnut (Apios americana) grows as a Climber and reaches roughly 1.8 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is fast.

Groundnut: what site does it need?

Groundnut tolerates partial shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.6 and 7.6.

Groundnut: is it hardy?

Groundnut is listed as hardy in zone 3–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Groundnut: will it grow in Central Europe?

Groundnut is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.

Groundnut: when does it flower?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from June to September.

Groundnut: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Groundnut. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Groundnut: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 8/10, Medicinal 1/10, Other uses 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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