Sorghum arundinaceum — an easy houseplant, prefers full sun light
SPECIMEN · FROM THE LIBRARY
Sorghum arundinaceum

Sorghum Arundinaceum

Updated · 11 observations
ON THIS PLANT

Sorghum arundinaceum, the common wild sorghum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. It is native to Sub‑Saharan Africa, Madagascar, many of the Indian Ocean islands, and the Indian Subcontinent, and has been introduced to northern South America, the US states of California and Florida, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, New Guinea, and a number of smaller islands worldwide. It is the wild progenitor of cultivated sorghum, Sorghum bicolor, with some authorities considering it to be a mere variety or subspecies; Sorghum bicolor var. arundinaceum, or Sorghum bicolor subsp. verticilliflorum.

A note from PlantMom

Sorghum is resistant to disease and is generally unlikely to be affected by illnesses. In terms of care, the plant is fairly low-maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs little watering, and larger specimens usually do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be trimmed after they have finished blooming. Sorghum is suitable for anyone with an outdoor area, such as a garden or deck, and does not demand much gardening experience.

— PlantMom
CARE GUIDE

How to keep Sorghum Arundinaceum.

Light

Sorghum comes from bright, open habitats and does best in full sun. It can tolerate partial sun but prefers direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is known for its sun-loving nature.

Temperature

Sorghum comes from tropical regions, where the climate is usually warm and humid. Therefore, it is well suited to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature shifts and prefers a steady temperature environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It typically cannot withstand cold temperatures and needs higher temperatures to grow. If the ambient temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Fertilizer

For optimal growth, Sorghum needs three fertilizer applications: a pre-planting treatment, one applied one month after seedling emergence, and a final treatment 1 to 1.5 months after the second. Some Sorghum types benefit from extra fertilizer at planting to support rapid growth.

CHARACTERISTICS

Botanical profile.

Plant Type
Grass
Life Cycle
Annual, Perennial
Genus
Sorghum
Family
Poaceae
Hardiness Zone
8-12
Mature Height
1.52 m to 3.05 m
Mature Spread
49 cm to 91 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
Flower Size
0.25 cm to 0.51 cm
Bloom Time
Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Autumn, Winter
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall, Early winter
Native Area
Burkina Faso, Somalia, Egypt, India, Angola, Namibia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Pakistan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Kenya, Niger, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Liberia, Mozambique, Burundi, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Congo, Central African Republic, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Sudan, Mauritania, Guinea, Chad, Myanmar, Togo, Bhutan, Senegal, Eswatini, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Congo (DRC), Thailand, Gabon
ALSO KNOWN AS

Other names.

en Sorghum en Common wild sorghum en Cameroon grass en Kamerun grass en Kavirondo sorghum en Tunis grass en Wild sorghum en Broom-corn
PLATES
Sorghum arundinaceum leaf
PLATE 01 · leaf
Sorghum arundinaceum leaf
PLATE 02 · leaf
Sorghum arundinaceum flower
PLATE 03 · flower
Sorghum arundinaceum flower
PLATE 04 · flower
Sorghum arundinaceum bark
PLATE 05 · bark
Sorghum arundinaceum habit
PLATE 06 · habit
ALSO IN THE LIBRARY

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