But long before the modern supermarket potato became the king of the kitchen, there was another starchy, satisfying plant feeding communities across North America, Apios americana, more commonly known as the potato bean, American groundnut, or sometimes even the Indian potato.
It’s a plant with a fascinating past, an unusual growth habit, and a flavour that feels like a cross between a nutty potato and a hearty bean. And despite being relatively unknown today, it’s quietly earning attention again among gardeners, foragers, and adventurous cooks.
So what exactly is Apios americana, why was it once so important, and is it something you could actually eat (or even grow) today?
Let’s take a proper look.
What Is Apios americana?
Apios americana is a perennial climbing vine native to eastern and central North America. Unlike most “bean plants” you’ll picture, it isn’t grown for a crop of pods. Instead, it’s prized for the underground tubers that form along its roots.
Those tubers are the star of the show, because they’re:
edible
nutritious
starchy and filling
naturally produced by the plant year after year
In simple terms, it’s a plant that acts a bit like a bean plant above ground… but behaves like a potato underground.
No wonder it gained the nickname “potato bean.”
Why Is It Called the Potato Bean?
The name “potato bean” makes more sense once you understand how the plant works.
Above ground:
Apios americana grows as a twining vine, and it produces pea-like flowers (often a rich reddish-purple). Like many members of the legume family, it can fix nitrogen into the soil, which makes it valuable in a garden setting.
Below ground:
Instead of giving you a harvest of beans, it forms a chain of knobbly tubers beneath the surface. These are what you dig up and cook, much like potatoes.
So it sits at an interesting crossroads:
a legume in its biology
a potato in how you eat it
A Plant With Deep History
Apios americana isn’t some trendy new superfood. It’s a traditional food source with genuine historical importance.
For centuries, it was used as a staple by Indigenous peoples. It’s also known to have been eaten by early European settlers in North America, partly because it was already a dependable wild food that could be gathered and cooked.
The plant’s tubers form underground like a natural larder — and once you know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to see why it was so valuable. In a landscape where farming could be unpredictable, having a perennial plant that produces edible tubers is like striking gold.
What Does Apios americana Taste Like?
People often describe Apios americana tubers as:
nutty
earthy
sweet-ish
potato-like in texture
more flavourful than a standard potato
Think of it as a more complex, slightly denser potato with a “bean-ish” richness to it.
The texture can vary depending on how you cook it, but it generally becomes soft and starchy when boiled, and crisp-edged when roasted.
If you enjoy things like roasted parsnips, butter beans, or chestnuts, you’ll probably get on with it.
How Do You Cook Potato Beans (Apios americana Tubers)?
The tubers are the edible part most people use. If you got your hands on some, you’d treat them similarly to other small tubers.
1) Boiled and buttered (simple comfort food)
Boil until tender, drain, then toss with:
butter (or olive oil)
salt and pepper
a little garlic
chopped herbs (parsley works beautifully)
This is a great “first try” method because it lets you taste the tuber properly without burying it in too many flavours.
2) Roasted like new potatoes
Roast them with:
olive oil
rosemary or thyme
smoked paprika (optional)
sea salt
They can go crisp on the outside while staying fluffy inside — very much like roasting baby potatoes.
3) Mashed into soups and stews
Apios americana can add a lovely body to winter dishes. Pop it into a stew with carrots, onions, stock, and herbs, and it will thicken and enrich the broth naturally.
4) Pan-fried slices
Slice thinly and fry in a little oil until golden, then sprinkle with salt. Simple and dangerously snackable.
Is Apios americana Nutritious?
One of the reasons Apios americana stands out is because it doesn’t just act like a potato — it’s often considered higher in protein than standard potatoes (though exact nutrition varies depending on the plant and growing conditions).
It’s also a plant that offers:
slow-release, starchy energy
fibre
a more filling “full meal” quality than many tubers
That mix of starch + protein is part of what made it such a valuable food historically.
Can You Grow Apios americana in the UK?
Here’s the interesting bit for gardeners: yes, it can be grown outside North America, including in parts of the UK, as long as it has the right conditions.
Apios americana is:
a climbing vine, so it needs support (trellis, fence, wigwam canes)
a perennial, so it comes back year after year
happier with moist, well-draining soil
generally suited to temperate conditions
That said, it isn’t a “plant it and forget it” crop like a bag of supermarket seed potatoes. It can take time to establish, and tuber production improves as the plant matures.
If you’re a gardener who enjoys unusual edible plants — especially ones with a bit of history behind them — this is the kind of thing that becomes a talking point in your garden.
(Quick note: if you’re growing anything intended for eating, always buy from a reputable supplier rather than digging up wild plants. Wild foraging has risks, and correct identification matters.)
Why Isn’t It More Popular?
With a name like “potato bean,” you’d think Apios americana would be everywhere.
But plants don’t become mainstream just because they’re tasty. Popularity often comes down to convenience and commercial farming.
Apios americana has a few challenges that likely held it back commercially:
tubers can form in a chain and can be fiddly to harvest compared with potatoes
it’s not as standardised as modern farm crops
it takes time to establish strong yields
it was overshadowed by the potato once potatoes became widely grown and traded
Still, “forgotten” doesn’t mean “not worth growing.” It just means it never got picked as the winner in the mass-market race.
The Potato Bean’s Quiet Comeback
There’s something deeply appealing about plants like Apios americana.
They’re not hyped-up supermarket trends. They’re old, useful, resilient foods that remind us how inventive people were with what grew naturally around them. In today’s world of rising food costs and renewed interest in self-sufficiency, it makes sense that more people are starting to notice them again.
Apios americana is:
a conversation starter
a piece of edible history
a potential home-grown staple
and frankly… just something different
And sometimes different is exactly what makes food exciting again.
Final Thoughts: Apios americana Deserves Your Attention
If you’ve never heard of Apios americana before today, you’re not alone. But now you know: the potato bean is real, it’s fascinating, and it bridges the gap between legumes and tubers in a way that feels almost too clever to be true.
Whether you’re interested in forgotten foods, unusual ingredients, or even growing your own quirky crops, Apios americana is absolutely worth a spot on your radar.
Next we'll be covering some recipes.
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