Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut (Arachis glabrata ‘Golden Glory’) is a tough, eco-friendly groundcover that’s quietly becoming one of the smartest lawn alternatives in the South. This low, spreading perennial forms a dense, weed-smothering carpet of lush green, clover-like leaves studded all season with bright golden-yellow, pea-shaped flowers from spring through fall. Best of all, it’s a nitrogen-fixing legume — it makes its own fertilizer — so once established, the Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut needs very little water, almost no feeding, and only occasional mowing.

Why Grow Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut?

Low-maintenance lawn alternative – a dense, walkable groundcover that needs far less water and mowing than turf grass.
Cheerful color all season – bright golden-yellow flowers bloom spring through fall (and they’re even edible, with a mild peanut flavor).
Feeds itself – as a nitrogen-fixing legume it enriches the soil and needs little to no fertilizer.
Tough & water-wise – excellent drought and salt tolerance once established, and it thrives in poor, sandy soils.
Weed-smothering & erosion-fighting – its dense, rhizomatous mat suppresses weeds and holds slopes.

Looking for more groundcovers and flowering color? Browse our Groundcovers & Border Plants and Flowering Plants collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

Botanical name: Arachis glabrata ‘Golden Glory’ (perennial peanut, ornamental peanut, rhizoma peanut)
Plant type: Low, spreading perennial legume groundcover (evergreen in frost-free areas)
Plant family: Fabaceae (the legume / pea family)
Mature size: about 6–12 inches tall, spreading by rhizomes into a dense mat
Flowers: Bright golden-yellow, pea-shaped flowers from spring through fall (edible, mild peanut flavor)
Foliage: Lush green, clover-like leaves forming a thick, weed-smothering carpet
Notable traits: Nitrogen-fixing; drought- and salt-tolerant; low-maintenance; tolerates light foot traffic
Cold Hardiness Zones: 8b–11

Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut Care & Growing Guide

This is one of the most carefree groundcovers you can plant. Follow these guidelines:

Sunlight: Full sun for the most flowers and fastest spread; it also grows in part shade, just with fewer blooms.
Water: Water regularly until established, then very little — it’s strongly drought-tolerant. It may brown out in extended drought and quickly greens back up after rain.
Soil: Prefers sandy, well-drained soil and tolerates poor, infertile ground; it won’t tolerate constantly soggy, saturated soil.
Cold Hardiness Zone: 8b–11. It’s evergreen in frost-free areas; where there’s frost it drops its leaves and goes semi-dormant, then regrows in spring.
Feeding & mowing: As a nitrogen-fixer it needs little to no nitrogen fertilizer. Mow only as needed (often just 2–3 times a year) to keep it tidy.

Ways to Use Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut in the Landscape

Low-water lawn alternative and turf replacement
Groundcover under trees, around shrubs, and in beds
Erosion control on slopes and banks
Roadside, median, and large-area plantings
Living mulch in orchards and pollinator gardens

It pairs beautifully with other tough, sun-loving plants. Gardeners often combine it with colorful Summer Sunset Jasmine, grassy Aztec Grass, or the orange Orange Bulbine.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut starter plants grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Plants are less than 12 inches tall when we ship them. The photos in this listing depict mature plants of the correct species so you can see how they will look as they grow and spread. Choose your preferred plant bundle size using the options above.

Due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees in order to comply with those laws if necessary.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order you agree to those terms.

Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut FAQ

Is the ornamental peanut a real peanut plant?

It is a close, non-fruiting relative. Arachis glabrata is a perennial peanut grown as an ornamental groundcover. It does not produce the underground edible peanuts of the annual crop, but its golden flowers are edible with a mild peanut flavor.

Can you walk on perennial peanut groundcover?

Yes. Golden Glory forms a dense mat that tolerates light foot traffic, which makes it a popular low-water lawn alternative. It is not built for heavy daily wear like a sports turf, but it handles normal garden use well.

How fast does ornamental peanut spread?

In full sun and warm weather it spreads steadily by underground rhizomes to form a thick, weed-smothering carpet. Closer plant spacing and regular water while establishing speed up coverage.

How far apart should I plant ornamental peanut?

For groundcover, space plants about 12 to 18 inches apart. Closer spacing fills in faster for a quick, continuous mat, while wider spacing is more economical and just takes a little longer to knit together.

Does ornamental peanut need fertilizer?

Very little. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it makes much of its own nitrogen and enriches the soil, so it generally needs little to no nitrogen fertilizer once established.

How much sun and water does it need?

Full sun gives the most flowers and the fastest spread, though it also grows in part shade with fewer blooms. Water regularly until established, then very little, since it is strongly drought-tolerant.

What growing zones is Golden Glory suited for?

It is hardy in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 8b to 11. It stays evergreen in frost-free areas; where there is frost it drops its leaves and goes semi-dormant, then regrows in spring.

Does ornamental peanut die back in winter?

In frost-free zones it stays evergreen. In areas that get frost it browns and goes semi-dormant for the winter, then flushes back out with fresh green growth in spring.

How often do I mow ornamental peanut?

Only as needed to keep it tidy, often just 2 to 3 times a year. Many gardeners leave it unmowed to enjoy the continuous golden bloom.

What size plants will I receive?

You will receive live Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut starter plants, under 12 inches tall at shipping, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species so you can see how yours will look as they grow and spread. Choose your bundle size using the options above.

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Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut (Arachis glabrata) yellow flowers and green foliage

Perennial peanut Golden Glory groundcover with yellow blooms

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Arachis glabrata ornamental peanut lawn alternative groundcover

Golden Glory perennial peanut yellow flower close-up

Ornamental peanut groundcover dense green mat

Carlos Plant Farm

Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut – Arachis glabrata (Perennial Peanut Groundcover, Live Starter Plants)

Price range: $33.79 through $178.32

Trade thirsty turf for live Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut (Arachis glabrata), a tough, eco-friendly groundcover. This low, spreading perennial forms a dense green mat dotted with bright golden-yellow flowers from spring through fall — and as a nitrogen-fixing legume, it feeds itself and needs little water, fertilizer, or mowing. Drought- and salt-tolerant, weed-smothering, and great for erosion control, it’s an outstanding low-maintenance lawn alternative. Shipped as a healthy live starter plant (under 12 inches tall) by Carlos Plant Farm. Cold hardy in USDA zones 8b–11.

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