Plant Profile: Cenchrus americanus

Taxonomy: Cenchrus americanus

Names

Millet, Pearl Millet

  • Photo of Cenchrus americanus (Cenchrus americanuss)

Phonetic Spelling:SEN-krus a-mer-ih-KAH-nus

Genus:Cenchrus

Species:americanus

Family:Poaceae

Pearl Millet, an ornamental grass indigenous to Africa, boasts striking flowers that yield a highly nutritious seed known as millet. Its remarkable resilience to drought and ability to thrive in poor soil conditions position it as a promising crop for the future.

Cenchrus americanus Feature Summary

Cenchrus americanus Image Gallery

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Cenchrus americanus Feature Summary

Attributes
Uses (Ethnobotany):
A dye plant, used medicinally and for hay for livestock.
Edibility:
Seeds are edible.
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Whole Plant Traits
Plant Type:
Edible
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Cultural Conditions
Light:
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil Drainage:
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Fruit
Fruit Type:
Caryopsis
Leaves
Stem
Landscape
Landscape Theme:
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Resistance To Challenges:
Drought
Dry Soil
Poor Soil

Cenchrus americanus Image Gallery

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Photo of Cenchrus americanus - 'Jade Princess' Form:Jim Robbins

Cenchrus americanus Attributes

Cenchrus americanus: Uses (Ethnobotany)

A dye plant, used medicinally and for hay for livestock.

Cenchrus americanus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Africa

Cenchrus americanus: Edibility

Seeds are edible.

Cenchrus americanus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cenchrus americanus Whole Plant Traits

Cenchrus americanus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cenchrus americanus Cultural Conditions

Cenchrus americanus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cenchrus americanus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cenchrus americanus Fruit

Cenchrus americanus: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Cenchrus americanus: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cenchrus americanus Leaves

Cenchrus americanus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cenchrus americanus Stem

Cenchrus americanus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cenchrus americanus Landscape

Cenchrus americanus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cenchrus americanus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind