Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Poaceae

Genus:

Eragrostis

Species:

Eragrostis tef

USDA Symbol:

ERTE

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Graminoid

Height:

120 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

fertile, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to Ethiopian highlands; prefers well-aerated soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

2–7 days

Notes:

Seeds are very small and require light for germination; surface sow without covering. Optimal germination temperature is 15-20°C.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI