Peanut is grown in the Tropican house in the Greenhouses in Aarhus

Peanut in the Greenhouses - *Arachis hypogaea*
© Egon Krogsgaard

Educational chart of peanut drawn by Bent Johnsen. The chart shows, i.e., how the fruits develop underground and how the pod contains two seeds (peanuts).

31 July 2025 by Science Museerne

The Latin name of the peanut, “hypogaea”, means “underground” and refers to the fact that the young fruits grow down into the soil, where they ripen. In this way, the fruits avoid being eaten by grazing animal

A peanut is not actually a nut, despite what the name suggests. The peanut belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae), like peas and beans. The fruit is a legume, and the individual peanuts are seeds—just like peas in a pea pod.

You can grow your own peanuts in a pot on a windowsill. It is especially entertaining to sow peanuts in a transparent pot and watch the pods develop underground

In 2023, global production of peanuts in shell was approximately 54 million tonnes. China remains the largest producer, with around 18 million tonnes per year.

Fact box:

Greenhouse location: Peanut is not on display at the moment
Danish name: Peanut
Latin name: Arachis hypogaea
Family: Pea family / Fabaceae
Natural habitat: South and Central America

Learn more about other plants here.