Sorghum.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual grass

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

6 to 10 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 9 to 11

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Plant these in a spot that gets plenty of sun and keep the soil consistently moist during the early growth stages. Watch for yellowing leaves, which might mean the soil is too wet or lacks nutrients. It is a very straightforward plant to manage if you provide enough warmth.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged during the peak growing season.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer once a month to support its rapid growth.

Pruning

Pruning is usually not necessary unless you are harvesting the grain or removing dead foliage.

Repotting

This plant is typically grown as an annual in the ground and does not require repotting.

Soil

Well-draining, loamy soil

Soil pH

5.5 to 7.5

Temperature

15 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

The plant is generally safe for consumption as a grain, but young foliage can be toxic to livestock.

Pets

Sorghum can be toxic to pets if they ingest large amounts of the leaves, especially when the plant is young or stressed.

Children

The tall, sturdy stalks can be a tripping hazard or cause minor scratches if children run through dense plantings.

Contact allergens

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to fine hairs.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in susceptible people during the flowering stage.

Edibility

Sorghum leaves and shoots can contain cyanogenic glycosides that pose a risk if consumed in large quantities, especially when young.

How to identify it

• Tall, thick, cane-like stems
• Broad, flat, lance-shaped leaves
• Dense, terminal seed panicles
• Fibrous, deep-reaching root system

Height

0.6 to 4m

Spread

0.3 to 0.9m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

green, yellow, red, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

brown, red, white, yellow, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• AnthracnoseCommon
• Sorghum MidgeCommon
• Stem BorersCommon
• AphidsUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• SmutUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

Spring

Plant legumes like cowpeas alongside sorghum to naturally boost soil nitrogen levels for better yields.

Grows well with

• Cowpea · They fix nitrogen in the soil which benefits the heavy feeding sorghum.
• Sunflower · They provide structural support and attract beneficial insects.

Keep away from

• Sudangrass · They share similar pests and diseases, leading to increased pressure when planted together.

Similar species

• Sudangrass · It is a close relative often used for forage rather than grain.
• Johnsongrass · It is a related perennial grass that is considered an invasive weed in many areas.

Science

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Sorghum

Order

Poales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Northeastern Africa

Conservation

Not of conservation concern as it is a widely cultivated agricultural crop.

It is a drought tolerant C4 grass that thrives in hot, arid environments where other grains fail.

Value to wildlife

provides cover for birds, seed source for birds

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

grain production, forage, syrup production, ornamental grass

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow sorghum in a pot?

Yes, but you need a very large container to support its height and root system.

Does it need full sun?

It thrives best in full, direct sunlight.

Where the name comes from

The name Sorghum comes from the Italian word sorgo, which traces back to the Latin surgere, meaning to rise. The species name bicolor refers to the two colors often seen in the grain or glumes.

Good to know

• Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop globally.
• It is naturally gluten free.
• Some varieties are grown specifically for their sweet stalks to make molasses.
• It originated in northeastern Africa.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs