Johnsongrass
Sorghum halepense
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Algeria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chad, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Gulf States, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., North Caucasus, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Tauʻolunga
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Sorghum
- Species:
- Sorghum halepense
- USDA Symbol:
- SOHA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, green
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Brown Ctenucha (Ctenucha brunnea), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Mexican rice borer (Eoreuma loftini), rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), white-dotted wainscot (Leucania subpunctata), Neamathla Skipper (Nastra neamathla), Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep rhizomes after fire or mowing; fire does not provide effective control.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to regions with variable moisture levels
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions. Light is not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI