What About the Peanut?
The Complete Guide to Peanut Plants, Types, and How They Grow
Peanuts are not tree nuts. They are legumes.
Yet they power one of the most important agricultural industries in the United States and are consumed globally in countless forms — from peanut butter and roasted snacks to cooking oils and food ingredients. The peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea) is botanically unique, agriculturally significant, and economically essential. This page is your definitive guide to what a peanut is, how peanuts grow, the different peanut types, and how U.S. peanut production operates — especially within the Virginia-Carolina peanut belt.
What Is a Peanut?
A peanut is a legume that grows underground inside a pod and belongs to the plant species Arachis hypogaea.
A peanut is the edible seed of the peanut plant.
Botanically, it is a legume — part of the Fabaceae family — and related to beans, lentils, peas, and chickpeas. Unlike tree nuts such as almonds or walnuts, peanuts develop underground inside pods.
The Peanut Plant at a Glance
Although commonly called a nut, the peanut is a flowering legume with a growth cycle unlike almost any other food crop.
The Botanical Definition of a Nut
A true nut is a hard-shelled fruit that does not split open to release its seed. Examples include:
- Acorns
- Chestnuts
- Hazelnuts
Peanuts do not meet this definition.
Instead, peanuts grow inside pods that develop below ground and contain one to four seeds — classifying them as legumes.
How Peanuts Grow (A Botanically Unique Process)
Peanuts grow in a way almost no other major food crop does. The process is called geocarpy — flowering above ground but fruiting below ground.
Peanut Plant Anatomy
Understanding peanut anatomy clarifies how peanuts differ from tree nuts.
Above Ground
Below Ground
Anatomy at a Glance
The Four Types of Peanuts (Market Types)
There are four primary peanut types grown commercially in the United States. Each serves a different role in food production.
For deeper insight into peanut market types see the Industry section.
Virginia Peanuts
- Largest kernel size
- Often roasted and sold in-shell
- Known as the “ballpark peanut”
- Prominent in the Virginia-Carolina peanut belt
Runner Peanuts
- Uniform medium size
- Most widely grown in the U.S.
- Backbone of peanut butter production
Spanish Peanuts
- Smaller kernels
- Higher oil content
- Frequently used in candy and peanut oil production
Valencia Peanuts
- Sweeter flavor
- Often contain three or more kernels per pod
- Common in boiled peanut markets
Where Are Peanuts Grown?
Peanuts thrive in warm climates with sandy, well-drained soil.
The Virginia-Carolina peanut belt is particularly known for producing premium Virginia-type peanuts.
For production practices and grower insights, see Production Resources.
From Farm to Food – The Peanut Production Process
Peanuts move through a structured agricultural system.
Peanut Nutrition
Peanuts are nutrient-dense and widely consumed globally.
For detailed nutritional breakdown and allergy information, see Nutrition & Allergy.
The Peanut Industry Today
Sustainability initiatives continue to improve soil health, crop efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
Learn more in Industry Overview and the Sustainable U.S. Peanut Initiative.