Rhizoma peanut | Arachis glabrata plant

Bushy plant| 2.5″ Square pot included

Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata ‘Ecoturf’) is a good low maintenance alternative to turf grass. This is an evergreen relative to the edible peanut and only grows a few inches tall. During the warmer months it bears bright yellow flowers. It has a creeping growth habit and will crowd out most weeds. Plant this in full sun and water regularly to get it established. Once established it is drought tolerant but will look better if irrigated during severe periods of drought.

Where to Plant Perennial Peanut

Perennial peanuts can be grown as a groundcover in garden beds for weed suppression, or you can plant them in your lawn to fill in bald spots or replace your grass lawn entirely. While perennial peanuts can handle some light foot traffic, consider adding a few stepping stones in frequently used areas to protect the plants from trampling. Perennial peanuts often don’t need to be mowed, so they are well-suited for sowing in hard-to-reach or steeply sloped areas that are otherwise difficult to maintain.

Places with nutrient-poor, sandy soils are not a problem because these peanut plants can produce their own nitrogen. Perennial peanuts can even handle higher-than-average salinity levels, so they work well in warm coastal areas.

How and When to Plant Perennial Peanut

The best time to plant perennial peanuts is when the soil is warm enough to be workable, but temperatures aren’t high. Spring is usually ideal because perennial peanuts establish themselves more easily during rainy weather.

Perennial peanuts are usually planted as rhizomes, which are buried about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep in sandy soil and 1 inch deep in clay soil. If you want a solid ground covering, space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart. These plants grow vigorously, so they will fill in the bare soil in no time. Ornamental plantings of perennial peanuts can be spaced more widely apart, depending on your preference.

After sowing, water the planting area and weed it regularly so weeds don’t overwhelm the new plants.

Perennial Peanut Care Tips

Hardy perennial peanuts can resist drought and pests, and pollinators love the flowers. To keep your perennial peanuts happy and healthy, follow these easy care tips.

Light

While perennial peanuts can grow in full sun to part shade, they produce fewer flowers in lower-light locations.

Soil and Water

Perennial peanuts grow best in well-drained soil, ideally sandy to sandy loam soil with a pH of 5.8 to 7.0.

After they are established, perennial peanuts are relatively drought-resistant; however, they grow better with regular watering. Aim to provide perennial peanuts with about 1 inch of water per week.

Temperature and Humidity

In frost-free areas of USDA Hardiness Zones 8b-11, perennial peanuts remain green all year round, but they drop their leaves in winter in cooler regions. They thrive in high humidity. Some reports have found that perennial peanuts can survive winters with temperatures below freezing, but these plants grow better with mild winters.

Fertilizer

Whether you grow perennial peanuts as a groundcover or lawn alternative, these plants generally don’t need extra fertilizer since they are able to fix their own nitrogen.

Pruning

No pruning is necessary, but trimming around the planting area keeps it looking tidy.

Pests and Problems

Perennial peanuts are resilient and naturally resistant to most pests and plant problems, although there are few exceptions.

Slugs and snails sometimes target perennial peanut plants, leaving ragged holes in leaves or munching away on entire leaves and flowers.

To control these pests naturally, install “slug pubs” in your garden by adding a bit of old orange juice or beer to a plastic container with low sides. Check the trap every few days for slugs that have found their way in. Alternatively, place old tiles or pieces of wood in your outdoor beds and then check underneath them once a day. Slugs and snails often congregate in these spots, making it easy to collect them.

Yellowing leaves can occur due to several issues, including soil imbalances or inconsistent watering. If you see yellow leaves, consider your watering schedule and adjust it if necessary. Any pH imbalances in your soil can also make it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients, so you may want to test your soil’s pH too.