Plant Details

Apios americana

Groundnut

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Common names

38 names · 25 languages
EnglishYour language
  • America-hodoimo[1]
  • American ground nut[1]
  • American groundnut[1]
+6 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (24)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse grondnoot[1]
  • Indianenaardappel
French
  • apios d'Amérique[1]
  • Glycine tubéreuse[1]
  • Haricot sauvage[1]
Abenaki
Algonquian languages (unspecified)
Biloxi
Cherokee
  • ako-hl[1]
  • inage-tanenu-na[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 北美土圞儿[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 北美土圞兒[1]
Czech
  • hlízola nachová[1]
Dakota
Finnish
  • amerikanmukulapapu[1]
German
Hidatsa
Ho Chunk
Italian
  • glicine tuberoso[1]
Japanese
  • アメリカホド[1]
Mi Kmaq
Miami
  • eepiikanita[1]
Omaha Ponca
Russian
  • Апиос американский[1]
Seneca
  • onono'ta'[1]
  • to'anjergo'o[1]
Slovak
  • hľuzniak americký[1]
Swedish
  • potatisböna[1]
Unami
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Apios americana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American groundnut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • hopniss — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • glicine tuberoso — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • groundnut — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • openauk — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • nu — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • inage-tanenu-na — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • ako-hl — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • to'anjergo'o — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • onono'ta' — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • kaksha — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • ado — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • tdo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • mdo — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • saagaaban — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Glycine tubéreuse — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Haricot sauvage — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Amerikaanse grondnoot — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Апиос американский — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • hlízola nachová — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • アメリカホド — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Apena — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • American ground nut — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Erdbirne — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • eepiikanita — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • potatisböna — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • potato bean — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Indian potato — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • cinnamon vine — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • hodoimo — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • America-hodoimo — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • Hopënis — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • amerikanmukulapapu — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • 北美土圞儿 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • 北美土圞兒 — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • hľuzniak americký — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.
  • apios d'Amérique — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 119817; Apios americana.

General information

Scientific name: Apios americana
Accepted name (Kew): Apios americana Medik. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Apios (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Groundnut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Climbing

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Root, Seed, Seed pod
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Companion plant, Latex, Carbon farming, Nitrogen fixer, Fragrant, Parasiticide

Description

The tubers of this plant can be consumed both raw and cooked and have a delicious flavor similar to roasted sweet potatoes. You can also dry the tubers and grind them into powder, which can be used as a thickening agent in soups or added to grain flour for bread. With a protein content of 17%, these tubers offer three times as much protein as potatoes. The first harvest of tubers can take place in the first year, but only after two to three years is an abundant harvest possible, with a yield of up to about 2.3 kilograms per plant. The best time to harvest them is in the fall, after which they can be stored until spring. The seeds of this plant, which can also be eaten cooked, are quite small and can be compared to peas and beans. They are a good source of protein and can also be ground into powder for use in bread products.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 726051; name ID 2643960; Apios Fabr.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1310102; name ID 2643961; Apios americana Medik..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Apios americana

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4824270, ID FMLV: Apios americana Medik. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Apios americana — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .