Known by numerous common names which depend on its location, sorghum is a crop grass native to Africa in the Poaceae (grass) family. It has been cultivated for over 3,000 years in southern Africa regions. It grows all over the world and is known for its ability to grow in drought laden poor soils. They prefer highly fertile moist soils with good drainage. It is grown as an annual in cooler hardiness zones and as a perennial in temperate Zones 9 through 12. Several varieties of sorghum bicolor exist. Grain sorghum is used for food while grass sorghum is grown for use as animal feed. Broomcorn, as the name indicates, is used for making brooms. White sorghum is sweet and most used as a grain crop. Red sorghum used in the prodcution of beer, has a less sweet taste that makes it undesirable to birds. Typically an annual, some varieties are classified as perennials. Included in the species of Sorghum bicolor are cultivated varieties as well as semi-wild weedy plants. The wild varieties have a ring of long hairs at the nodes. Their spreading branches are whorled. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, American bollworm, and borer are common insects. Commonly affected by fungus, bacteria, and nematodes, these diseases can easily spread to crops. Birds and rodents are attracted to the seed heads, and can become a nuisance. It is aggressive, rapid growing and can outcompete other plants.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Columnar; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Floppy leaf blades grow along the entire length of each stem. They are located underneath the flower panicles. The upper side of the leaf is a darker green than the underside. The underside has a dull appearance.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Wind pollinated flowers appear from August to October. Growing in the form of 6" to 20" panicles, each flower cluster can produce 800 to 3,000 kernels.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Edible seeds ripen from September-October and vary in color from white through shades of red and brown to pale yellow to deep purple-brown.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Grows as a solitary or tufted leafy stem that is covered by sheaths.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Africa
Distribution
Worldwide
Wildlife value
Birds and small mamals are attracted to the seeds.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Edibility
A grain that is used for human and livestock. It can be cooked like rice. It can also be ground into a flour. The grain from sorghum is gluten-free and is typically ground into a meal that is used for bread, porridge, and cakes. Processing the grain will help to dissipate its strong taste. It can also be used in the production of oils, starch, dextrose and even alcoholic drinks.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The grain can be used to make ethanol. Used as cattle and poultry feed. Its stalks can be used as building material or to make brooms.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #wind pollinated #fast growing #food source hard mast fruit #bird friendly #heat tolerant #warm-season grass #shade intolerant #problem for cattle #problem for horses #dry soils tolerant #grass #aggressive #high maintenance #weedy #edible #poor soil tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage; Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables
Problems
Invasive Species; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Resistant to
Drought; Heat; Poor Soil
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves; Stems
Poison symptoms
Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite, restlessness. Consumption of an immature plant is poisonous to both humans and animals. This toxic nature can increase when the plant is exposed to frost, drought, or trampling. If consumed in excess quantities, it can cause respiratory distress and death. The poisonous substances found in immature plants are destroyed once the plant has dried or converted to food for animal consumption.