African Feathergrass
Cenchrus caudatus
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Stefan.lefnaer
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Cenchrus
- Species:
- Cenchrus caudatus
- USDA Symbol:
- PEMA80
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal nodes following fire; common in fire-maintained grasslands and disturbed areas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers open, sunny areas with minimal competition
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Warm temperatures (20-30°C) promote germination. Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI