A fascinating and educational plant, Arachis hypogaea is best known for its unusual growth habit, where flowers appear above ground but the peanuts themselves develop underground. Grown indoors, it’s a fun, short-lived plant often enjoyed as a novelty or learning plant rather than a long-term houseplant. With the right warmth and light, it produces soft green foliage and small yellow, pea-like flowers.
Scientific Name
Arachis hypogaea (underground legume)
A member of the legume family (Fabaceae). The species name hypogaea refers to its unique trait of forming fruit below the soil surface.
Common Name
Peanut Plant, Groundnut
Origin
Native to South America, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years and later spread worldwide as a food crop.
Light
Prefers bright light, including some direct sun. A sunny windowsill or very bright room is ideal for healthy growth and flowering.
Water
Keep the compost lightly moist during active growth, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering once flowering has finished. Avoid waterlogged soil.
Humidity
Happy in average household humidity. Does not require misting.
Soil
Use a loose, free-draining compost that allows space for developing peanuts beneath the surface. A standard houseplant compost with added grit works well.
Food
Feed every 2–3 waters during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Stop feeding once growth slows.
Temperature
Prefers warm conditions between 18–28°C. Avoid temperatures below 12°C.
Pet-safe
Non-toxic as a plant, though peanuts themselves should not be fed to pets.
Sprouts Top Tips
If flowers appear, resist the urge to move or disturb the soil – the plant needs loose compost to allow peanuts to form underground.
Extras
This is typically grown as a seasonal or novelty plant rather than a permanent houseplant.
Did You Know?
Peanuts are one of the very few plants in the world that flower above ground but produce their fruit below the soil surface.
