Perennial Peanut: An Environmentally Friendly Florida Grass Replacement?

Are you tired of always having to mow your lawn? Do you have hard-to-reach spots that get overgrown too quickly? If so, perennial peanut might be the solution! This tough, low-growing plant requires very little maintenance, thrives in Florida's climate, and can even suppress weed growth. If you're looking for an easy care, environmentally friendly alternative to grass for your landscape, read on to find out more.

Benefits of Perennial Peanut

Perennial peanut, sometimes known as peanut grass, is a relative of common peanut - the edible kind. However, this variety doesn't produce edible peanuts. Instead, it grows dense foliage and small, bright yellow flowers from spring through summer until the first frost. Because they are low-growing, perennial peanut plants don't need mowing.

This plant is an excellent choice for nutrient-poor soils because of its ability to produce nitrogen. Like other varieties of peanut, this plant can even improve soil fertility. It is somewhat salt-tolerant, so is well suited to coastal areas with high salinity. Perennial peanut's mat of rhizomes - that is, horizontal stems that grow under the ground - can be beneficial for erosion control as well.

Peanut grass is a great choice in environmental terms. It doesn't need a lot of water or supplemental nitrogen and helps pollinators like bees by providing food for them. It also naturally resists pests and suppresses weeds, reducing the need for harmful chemicals.

In addition to all the other benefits, this ornamental peanut's flowers are edible too! They have a pleasant nutty taste and can be added to salads.

Uses for Perennial Peanut

Peanut grass is a versatile groundcover plant. It makes an excellent replacement for turf in lawns, especially those with infrequent foot traffic. If you want to use perennial peanut in an area that needs to be crossed often, consider adding stepping stones or creating a path to avoid trampling it down too much.

If you're not looking for a complete lawn replacement, perennial peanut is still useful to cover smaller areas. These might include places that are subject to erosion, or areas such as slopes that are difficult to reach with a lawn mower. It won't grow more than around a foot in height, so doesn't need to be mowed - but you can mow every few weeks if you want it to be shorter.

With its plentiful green leaves and pretty golden flowers, this pretty plant also makes attractive groundcover in garden beds. It won't grow more than 9-12 inches tall. It can be used in beds for weed suppression, as the thick rhizome mat will prevent the growth of most weeds.

Pros and Cons as a Lawn Alternative

As we've seen, there are many benefits to using perennial peanut as a turf grass alternative. But there are some downsides too. Here's a summary of the pros and cons.

Pros

• A low maintenance ground cover that does not need mowing.
• Perennial peanut produces nitrogen. This means it can thrive even in poor soils, and can even improve soil quality.
• Its salt tolerance means this plant is a good choice near the ocean.
• Rhizomic roots can help control soil erosion.
• No need to apply fertilizer.
• Uses less water than a traditional lawn.
• Provides food for beneficial pollinators.
• Looks pretty, with bright green foliage and delicate yellow flowers.

Cons

• Peanut grass does not stand up very well to foot traffic, so it doesn't work that well to replace a lawn that kids or pets will be playing on. Consider using hard standing (for example stepping stones or pavers) in high foot traffic areas.
• Perennial peanut does not grow well in waterlogged soil. Leaves may begin to turn yellow if the roots stay damp. To combat this, allow plenty of time for the soil to dry out between waterings.
• May begin to lose its leaves if it gets too dry.
• May die back during cooler winters. Overseeding with ryegrass can improve year-round appearance.
• Not a Florida native plant. However, perennial peanut is native to South America and is not considered invasive or a nuisance plant.

Climate and Sun Requirements

Perennial peanut is hardy in Zones 8b-11, meaning it can grow throughout Florida. In areas without frost, this plant will act as if evergreen. However, after a frost, peanut grass will drop its leaves, revealing the brown stems beneath. UF Gardening Solutions recommends overseeding with ryegrass if you live in an area where frost occurs, to keep your landscape looking green year-round.

While perennial peanut will grow in partial shade, full sun is recommended for this ornamental legume. Production levels of the beautiful yellow-orange flowers will be much higher in direct sunlight.

Planting and Establishing

Perennial peanut should be planted at a time of year when the soil is warm but temperatures are not too hot. It also helps to have plenty of rain while this plant is getting established. Spring is therefore the best time of year to start growing perennial peanut. As the name suggests, this is a perennial plant, which will grow year after year.

To get started, plant perennial peanut rhizomes - the underground stems - 1.5-2 inches deep in sandy soil. Space the plants 2-3 feet apart to get a solid layer of ground cover. They will quickly grow to fill the entire area. During the establishment phase, you should make sure to water your perennial peanut plants frequently. You'll also need to weed in between the plants until they are established.

Watering, Fertilization and Drought Tolerance

Regular watering will help your perennial peanut to grow well. Ideally, you would provide around one inch of water per week. Make sure to allow the soil to dry out fully between waterings. Although it does best with regular irrigation, perennial peanut is relatively drought tolerant. Even when it's short of water, this plant should still be able to survive.

Because it produces its own nitrogen, perennial peanut won't need any additional nitrogen fertilizer. You can add a potassium fertilizer once a year during the growing season.

Alternatives to Perennial Peanut

Like the idea of a low-maintenance groundcover as an alternative to turf but not sure about this particular plant? Here are some other suggestions for turf replacement plants:

• Sunshine Mimosa is a native Florida plant with fluffy pink flowers. This plant gives nitrogen to the soil. It's a fast spreader and provides food for butterflies. May go dormant in winter.
• Twinflower is a native, low-growing evergreen plant with purple flowers that provide a food source for butterflies.
• Corsican Mint is a versatile ground cover plant that can tolerate some foot traffic. It grows low and has tiny white flowers during the summer.
• Clover can work well on its own or combined with turf grass as an attractive ground cover.

If you're not sure which low maintenance alternative to go for, you could always try small areas of several different options to see which ones thrive in your outdoor space before you start a larger project.

Final Thoughts

If you are thinking of redesigning your landscape for ease of maintenance or if you want an eco-friendly alternative to grass, perennial peanut could be an excellent choice for you. If you're not certain and want to chat about your landscape design, or want help with planning and installation, get in touch with your friendly local landscaping experts at LawnMore Gainesville!

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