Do peanuts grow on trees?

Peanuts grow underground, not on trees because as legumes, they are related to lentils, beans and peas rather than to walnuts. Peanuts are small plants that produce their flowers above ground, while the peanuts, which are the fruit, develop below the soil.

First grown in Paraguay, peanuts are annuals with pinnate leaves and yellow blossoms with red veining. Following pollination, the flower stalk grows longer and bends to push the ovary into the ground, where the peanut forms. Pods usually contain one to four seeds. The botanical term “nut” denotes indehiscent fruits that split at maturity to release their contents. Plants exhibiting indehiscence include peanuts, poppies and some ferns.