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Climber Wall Shrub

Apios americana

potato bean

A slender, herbaceous perennial climber with edible tubers and leaves made up of five or seven, pointed leaflets. The scented flowers, borne in late summer and early autumn are pea-like, pale brown outside and dark, reddish-brown inside

Other common names

ground nut
ground pen
see moreIndian potato
mic-mac potato
North American potato bean
North American wild bean
pig potato
potato pea
sagabon
trailing pea
tuberose wisteria
tuberous-rooted wisteria
white apple
wild bean
cinnamon vine
wild wisteria

Synonyms

Apios tuberosa

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Apios are a genus of tender, perennial vine which produce edible beans and tubers. Popular during Victorian times, it produced small, scented racemes of purple coloured flowers.
Name status: Correct
Plant range: N America

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant tubers in moist but well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Will scramble over shrubs, or twine around supports such as bamboo canes

Propagation

Separate tubers in autumn and replant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required, will die down in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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