Bulbs, rhizomes and tubers: Apios americana

Native to the wetlands of North America, Apios americana , often called string bead or tuberous wisteria, weaves its supple stems through the vegetation, as if recalling the ancient bonds between people and their food plants. Its tubers form along underground stolons, in more or less spaced strings, and constitute a valuable energy reserve for burrowing fauna and, where it is known, for curious gardeners.

This climbing perennial from the Fabaceae family thrives in moist to wet soils and in sunny to partially shaded locations. Its reddish-brown to purple flowers, arranged in dense clusters, bring a discreet yet distinctive presence to the heart of the living garden. Far removed from rushed cultivation, Apios establishes itself deeply and requires time: it readily integrates into a perennial, nourishing space, where the slow development of its tubers can be observed over the seasons.