Billion-Dollar Grass
Echinochloa colona subsp. edulis
- Native to:
- Central African Republic, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Echinochloa
- Species:
- Echinochloa colona subsp. edulis
- USDA Symbol:
- ECFR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica), Long Dash (Polites mystic)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, waterfowl
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, moisture-retentive loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in floodplains and wetland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm, moist conditions. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI