Fabacées • Apios americana

Apios americana (beaded potato) - Organic

"A wild and nourishing climber, patiently following the rhythm of damp soils."

$14.00

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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.

Growing climate: Warm season
Sowing difficulty level: Difficult
Care required: Regular
Growth: Slow growth

Note: This plant takes several seasons to produce tubers of a decent size and appreciates soil that remains cool without being waterlogged.

The tubers of Apios americana are traditionally eaten cooked, using various methods similar to those used for potatoes: boiled, roasted, or added to soups and stews. In some North American Indigenous traditions, they were an important source of foraged food in wetlands. Their mealy texture and high energy content made them a valued supplementary food. The tubers can be stored for a while in a cool place, in slightly damp sand, like other root vegetables.