Perennial Peanut, Orange (Arachis glabrata)
Perennial peanut is one of the cleanest “living mulch” plants you can add to a Florida food forest. It forms a dense, low carpet of deep green leaves, then lights up with warm orange-yellow, pea-like flowers that make a bed look cared-for even when you’re letting nature do the heavy lifting. It’s tidy enough for a front-yard look—but functional enough for serious soil-building.
Because Arachis glabrata is a legume, it partners with soil microbes to fix nitrogen, gradually enriching the ground beneath it. That makes it especially valuable around fruit trees, along orchard rows, and in sunny open areas where you want less mowing, fewer weeds, and more fertility over time.
In Florida planting zone 9, perennial peanut is usually happiest in full sun with decent drainage. Once it’s established, it can handle dry spells surprisingly well, but it spreads faster and flowers heavier when it gets regular moisture during the growing season.
Any reference to medicinal or culinary use of plants or plant parts should in no way be considered an endorsement by The Ocala Food Forest or its staff. Research is crucial in safe and proper consumption or experimentational use of any plant.
Plant Information
| Scientific Name: | Arachis glabrata |
|---|---|
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Legume family) |
| Common Name(s): | Perennial Peanut, Ornamental Perennial Peanut |
| Size: | Typically 4–8 in tall (occasionally to 12 in), spreading 2–6+ ft wide as it colonizes via rhizomes |
| Plant Type: | Perennial groundcover (herbaceous legume) |
| Florida Status: | Florida Friendly (commonly used as a sustainable groundcover; not Florida native) |
| Origin/Geographic Distribution: | Native to South America; widely cultivated in warm climates as forage and ornamental groundcover |
| Native to: | South America (species origin) |
| Planted range in the USA: | Commonly grown across Florida and other warm regions of the Southeast where winters are mild |
| Conservation Status: | Not listed as threatened or endangered |
Cultivation
| Planting: | Best planted in spring through early summer using plugs or rhizome pieces so it can root deeply before cool weather |
|---|---|
| Sun Exposure: | Full sun (best flowering and densest groundcover); tolerates light/partial shade with reduced bloom |
| Soil Type: | Well-drained sandy to loamy soils; performs best with organic matter but dislikes chronic standing water |
| Soil pH: | 5.5 to 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral) |
| Water Requirements: | Moderate during establishment; once established, moderate to low—spreads faster with regular moisture |
| Fertilizer Requirements: | Low; often needs little to no nitrogen fertilizer (it’s a legume). If growth is slow, use light compost/topdress and ensure potassium and micronutrients are adequate. |
| Pruning Requirements: | Low; mow or edge as needed to keep it tidy. A light trim after heavy flowering can refresh growth |
| Growth Rate: | Medium to fast once established; can spread roughly 1–3 ft per year in warm weather depending on water and soil fertility |
| Companion Planting: | Excellent living mulch under fruit trees and along sunny guild edges—reduces weeds, cools soil, and supports beneficial insects |
Tolerance and Hardiness
| Drought Tolerance: | High once established; drought reduces flowering and slows spread |
|---|---|
| Frost Tolerance: | Moderate: top growth can brown back near 32°F (0°C). Established rhizomes often survive brief lows around 20°F (−6°C) and resprout when warm weather returns (mulch improves survival) |
| Heat Tolerance: | Excellent; handles summer heat well. With adequate moisture it can tolerate 100–105°F (38–41°C) |
| Wind Tolerance: | High (low-growing groundcover; wind is rarely an issue) |
| Salt Tolerance: | Low to moderate; avoid direct salt spray and heavily saline soils |
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: | Typically 8–11 (best long-term performance where winters are mild) |
Flower and Fruit Information
| Fruit Type: | Peanut-like pods (typically minimal in many ornamental plantings; spread is mostly by rhizomes) |
|---|---|
| Harvest Time: | Not typically harvested; grown primarily as a groundcover/forage rather than a nut crop |
| Fruit Description: | Underground pods in the peanut family; rarely a practical edible peanut producer in ornamental settings |
| Edible Plant: | Not recommended as an edible peanut crop; treat as an ornamental/soil-building groundcover |
| Edible Parts: | N/A |
| Medicinal: | Not commonly used medicinally |
| Flower Color: | Orange-yellow to golden, pea-like flowers |
| Flower Shape: | Small legume blossoms held above the foliage |
| Fragrance: | None to very mild |
| Flower Bloom Time: | Late spring through fall (often strongest in warm, wet months) |
| Bloom Duration: | Intermittent flushes for months in the growing season |
| Pollination: Self or Other? | Visited by bees and other insects; pollination is not usually the limiting factor for spread (rhizomes drive coverage) |
Wildlife
| Attracts: | Bees and small pollinators that forage on the flowers; beneficial insects benefit from the shelter of dense groundcover |
|---|---|
| Pollinators: | Native bees, honeybees, and small butterflies |
| Problematic Pest: | Generally low pest pressure; occasional issues can include chewing insects, aphids, or mites (usually minor in healthy plantings). |
Health and Safety
| Toxic: | Generally considered non-toxic |
|---|---|
| Poisonous Parts of Plant: | None commonly recognized as poisonous |
| Toxic to Humans: | Not toxic; normal garden handling is considered safe |
| Toxic to Animals: | Not typically toxic; widely used as a forage/groundcover plant in warm regions |
| Plant Diseases to be aware of: | Leaf spots, root rots in poorly drained soils, and occasional fungal issues in prolonged humidity—prioritize drainage and avoid constant wetness |
Companion Planting
For Arachis glabrata (Perennial Peanut), the best companions are plants that enjoy similar sun and drainage, and that benefit from a weed-suppressing, soil-building groundcover. Use perennial peanut as the “floor layer” of a guild—then build taller layers with shrubs, herbs, and small trees around it.
Florida Native: Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa)
Zone Range: 8–11
Benefits: Another nitrogen-fixing groundcover; adds pollinator value and fills gaps where peanut hasn’t closed yet.
Use: Blend on edges or in mixed “living mulch” patches for a tougher, more diverse ground layer.
Florida Native: Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Zone Range: 7–11
Benefits: Excellent pollinator plant; helps suppress weeds and reduces soil splash during storms.
Use: Let it run in pathways and transition zones (keep it out of tight, manicured borders if you want a cleaner edge).
Florida Native: Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Zone Range: 6–11
Benefits: Adds structure and wind-filtering without heavy shade; strong fall interest and habitat value.
Use: Plant as a background/edge clump so the peanut stays sunny and flowers well.
Florida Friendly: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Zone Range: 9–11
Benefits: Great biomass for mulch; clumps help define beds and create a tidy border look.
Use: Plant as a border row and harvest often; keep clumps from shading the peanut too much.
Florida Friendly: Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
Zone Range: 9–11 (often grown as an annual in cooler zones)
Benefits: Nitrogen-fixer and “chop-and-drop” workhorse; adds vertical structure and produces mulch on demand.
Use: Use as a seasonal nurse plant near orchard rows—prune hard to prevent shading the peanut.
Florida Friendly: Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
Zone Range: 9–11 (often grown as a warm-season perennial)
Benefits: Reliable nectar source that draws butterflies and bees, improving overall garden activity.
Use: Plant in pockets/borders above the peanut layer for a “finished” look with continuous blooms.
For fruit tree guilds, keep a clear mulch ring right at the trunk (no dense groundcover touching bark). Use perennial peanut from the dripline outward, and edge it cleanly where you want a more formal look. If you need faster coverage, plant plugs closer together and keep them evenly moist for the first season.
Sources & References
Reference list used for general horticultural guidance and Florida-relevant best practices (not medical advice):
- UF/IFAS EDIS Publication Database — research-based guidance on perennial peanut uses (groundcover/forage), establishment, and regional considerations.
- UF/IFAS Extension (Solutions for Your Life) — Florida-friendly landscape best practices, irrigation guidance, and sustainable yard recommendations.
- Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program — water-wise, low-input landscape principles that align well with living mulch groundcovers.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — zone reference framework for planting suitability.
- USDA PLANTS Database — taxonomy and distribution reference for U.S. plant records (useful for verifying scientific names).