Groundnut is a perennial grown for its purple blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 7, shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for native bees and butterflies. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
3-7
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Groundnut is
Groundnut grows as a perennial and reaches around ten feet at maturity. It blooms purple in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Groundnut
Groundnut grows in USDA zones 3 through 7. Groundnut does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
10 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant groundnut in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Groundnut prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut groundnut blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — groundnut isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Groundnut offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Groundnut thrives
Groundnut is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 7. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–7·Where Groundnut growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Groundnut can grow in these states:
See if Groundnut will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether groundnut actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Groundnut in my zone?
Groundnut grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Groundnut?
Most growers plant groundnut after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Groundnut need?
Groundnut does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Groundnut need?
Groundnut prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Groundnut attract pollinators?
Yes — groundnut's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Groundnut safe for pets?
Groundnut is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.