Peanut
Arachis hypogaea
- Native to:
- Bolivia, Guam, Palau
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Arachis
- Species:
- Arachis hypogaea
- USDA Symbol:
- ARHY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
almond moth (Cadra cautella), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Grape Leafminer (Stegasta bosqueella), Helcystogramma melantherella, Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, fertile soil
- pH:
- 5.8 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to South America, prefers warm climates
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at warm soil temperatures (68-86°F). Remove shells before planting or use whole pods.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI