American Groundnut

Groundnut - Apios americana - Improved LSU Cultivar

Groundnuts are a native-to-Michigan, vining, nitrogen-fixing, perennial vegetable with edible tubers and beans. The vine grows up to 6 meters long and likes to climb or mound, when not given support. The tubers are delicious and store exceptionally well. They are said to taste “nuttier” than a potato and contain three times the protein. Ground nuts were a staple of the diet for people indigenous to the Americas. They are commercially farmed in Japan and have been considered a culinary specialty for over 100 years since their introduction there.

This is an improved cultivar of Apios americana from Louisiana State University's breeding program. They were selected for increased productivity and larger tuber size. Groundnuts do best in moist, lowland areas with full sun. After one year of growth, several one-inch-thick tubers can be harvested from each plant

Groundnut is a larval host for the silver spotted skipper.

Available through the Spring Tree Sale. Pick up from Kardell Hall, Eaton Co. Fairgrounds
Friday, April 12, 2024 9AM to 5PM
Saturday, April 13, 2024 9AM to 11AM