Origin: Eastern US Native
Flower Size: 1/2 in. each
Scent: lightly sweet
Bloom Season: June to Sept.
Mature Size: 6 to 12 ft
Hardiness: 4 to 9
Description: I first saw this growing in the wild while kayaking with the family on Broad River in Georgia. My first thought was "look at that marvelous red Wisteria" until I realized it was Ground Nut; Apios americana. The beautiful clusters of red flowers were hanging gently over a quiet edge of the river. I knew its wonderful history as a staple crop of the native americans and how it helped early european settlers survive, but I never expected it to be so pretty in person!
Easy to grow and good in wet areas, Apios americana is an herbaceous perennial twiner with clusters of up to a dozen little flowers and a long bloom season. Its native habitat runs from the Gulf of Mexico all the way deep into New England and out to the midwest.