Kunth's Smallgrass
Microchloa kunthii
- Native to:
- Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Chile, China, Colombia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
(c) María Eugenia Mendiola González, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Microchloa
- Species:
- Microchloa kunthii
- USDA Symbol:
- MIKU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from base after fire; tolerates periodic burning in grassland systems.
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:
- native to dry grasslands and savannas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with warmth and moisture; no pretreatment typically required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI