Bulbs, rhizomes and tubers: Ground bean

Native to North America, the ground bean ( Apios americana ) is a perennial legume that develops strings of edible tubers along its roots. A climbing vine, it clings flexibly to available supports and creates a tranquil presence in the vegetable garden or kitchen garden.

Its delicate, compound foliage, typical of the Fabaceae family, forms a green ground cover that accompanies the changing seasons. Its flowers, clustered in dense bunches ranging from brownish-pink to purple, add an unexpected and subtle ornamental touch. In cool, well-drained soil, the ground bean thrives for several years, yielding, over time, a harvest of rich and nutritious tubers.

In a harmonious garden, this plant contributes to biodiversity while providing food through an age-old practice: gently lifting the tubers at the end of the growing season, leaving enough to ensure the plant's return the following year. A hardy and valuable companion for a nourishing space rooted in the natural cycle.