Sorghum bicolor: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The grain can be used to make ethanol.
Plant Profile: Sorghum bicolor
Taxonomy: Sorghum bicolorNames
Common Wild Sorghum, Grain Sorghum, Great Millet, Sorghum, Sudangrass
Phonetic Spelling:
Genus:Sorghum
Species:bicolor
Family:Poaceae
Sorghum, a type of grass belonging to the Poaceae family, originates from Africa. This versatile crop is cultivated globally, renowned for its resilience in drought-prone and less fertile soils. Nevertheless, it thrives best in rich, well-drained, and moist environments.
Sorghum bicolor Feature Summary
Tags
#drought tolerant
#edible plant
#weedy
#fast growing
#wind pollinated
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
Similar Plants
Sorghum bicolor Feature Summary
Attributes
The grain can be used to make ethanol.
Birds and small mamals are attracted to the seeds.
A grain that is used for human and livestock. It can be cooked like rice. It can also be ground into a flour.
Annual
Fruit
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.
Gold/Yellow
Flowers
Wind pollinated flowers appear from August to October
Insignificant
Summer
Fall
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Leaves
Stem
Landscape
Sorghum bicolor Image Gallery
Sorghum bicolor Attributes
Sorghum bicolor: Country Or Region Of Origin
Africa
Sorghum bicolor: Wildlife Value
Birds and small mamals are attracted to the seeds.
Sorghum bicolor: Edibility
A grain that is used for human and livestock. It can be cooked like rice. It can also be ground into a flour.
Sorghum bicolor: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Sorghum bicolor Fruit
Sorghum bicolor: Fruit Description
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.
Sorghum bicolor: Fruit Color
Gold/Yellow
Sorghum bicolor Flowers
Sorghum bicolor: Flower Description
Wind pollinated flowers appear from August to October
Sorghum bicolor: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Sorghum bicolor: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Sorghum bicolor Whole Plant Traits
Sorghum bicolor: 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
Sorghum bicolor: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Sorghum bicolor: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Sorghum bicolor Cultural Conditions
Sorghum bicolor: 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)
Sorghum bicolor: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Sorghum bicolor: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Sorghum bicolor Leaves
Sorghum bicolor: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Sorghum bicolor Stem
Sorghum bicolor: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Sorghum bicolor Landscape
Sorghum bicolor: 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
Sorghum bicolor: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Sorghum bicolor: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
