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Vine

Groundnut / Hopniss

Apios americana

Vine with edible tubers, seeds, beans, flowers. Native to Oklahoma; impressive tuber yields once established; underutilized food plant

NativeEdible
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun + Part shade
WaterMedium water
System layerVine
Plant typeVine
Plant spacing12 in apart
Mature size6-10 ft / spreading
Chill hours0-500
Soil pH5.5-7.0
HarvestSep–Oct (tubers)
Expected yieldTubers: 0.5-3 lbs/plant
TrellisYes (trellis/light support)
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Native to Oklahoma; impressive tuber yields once established; underutilized food plant

Disease resistance

Excellent

Pruning

Minimal; harvest tubers in fall; leave some to regrow

Care

Native food plant once used by Native Americans and early settlers; excellent food forest vine

Drought tolerance

Moderate; consistent moisture improves performance

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Native Groundnut (species)

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Attractor; Nitrogen Fixer

Edible parts

Tubers, Seeds, Beans, Flowers

Companion plants

Fruit trees, Comfrey, Native plants

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile; Companions: Fruit trees, Comfrey, Native plants

Food-forest layer

Vine

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 5.5-7.0

KNF / fertility schedule

Minimal — nitrogen fixer supports companions

Maintenance

Minimal; harvest tubers in fall; leave some to regrow Support: Yes (trellis/light support)

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.