Bloomipedia
American groundnut (Apios americana)
Photo: Lynn Harper via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

American groundnut

Apios americana

American groundnut (Apios americana) is a vine in the Fabaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

American groundnut is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

38states where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
17,426U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Georgia, Rhode Island, South Carolina

Quick look

Apios americana, sometimes called the American groundnut, potato bean, hopniss, Indian potato, hodoimo, America-hodoimo, cinnamon vine, or groundnut is a deciduous or evergreen perennial vine that bears edible beans and large edible tubers.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 38 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Georgia, Connecticut, South Carolina and Rhode Island. NatureServe
  • In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–September. iNaturalist
  • In Connecticut, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 987 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #96 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 506 research-grade sightings of it in Connecticut, ranking #97 among the 179 flowers on our Connecticut list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 374 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #106 among the 171 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,148 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
GeorgiaNativeAugust–September987
ConnecticutNativeJuly–August506
South CarolinaNativeJune–September374
Rhode IslandNativefew records (29)205

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in South Carolina.
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CO (S1), ND (SH). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Cooked, mature tubers are similar to a potato but have a nuttier flavor and finer texture. They also have 3 times the protein of potatoes as well as numerous other health benefits. The legume is also edible.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American groundnut in 38 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Bartow, Brooks, Bryan, Calhoun, Chatham, Clarke, Cobb, Decatur, Dooly, Echols, Elbert, Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Harris, Madison, McIntosh, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Rockdale, Seminole, Spalding, Stephens, Tift, Towns, Upson, Walker, Ware, Wilkes, Worth.

South Carolina counties with USDA records: Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chesterfield, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Lancaster, Lexington, Marlboro, McCormick, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Williamsburg.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives American groundnut a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
140
Annual precipitation range
28 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
8 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed, tubers
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for APAM. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Glycine apios.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1208 counties across 37 states; the most are in Missouri (96), Virginia (86), Illinois (75).

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

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Sources