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Chicken Corn Sorghum x drummondii

Previously known as:

  • Sorghum bicolor var. drummondii
  • Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense
  • Sorghum sudanense
  • Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense
  • Sorghum x sudanense
Phonetic Spelling
SOR-gum drum-MOAN-dee-eye
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Southern Egypt and Sudan, Sudan grass was introduced to the US in the early 1900's.  

This warm-season hybrid grass is used for forage for horses and cows, as a means of erosion control, and as a cover crop for weed suppression. Its stems are finer than other sorghum sudangrass hybrids.

Growing very quickly, it surpasses other varieties of forage sorghum.  

Although used as a forage crop, under certain conditions, this plant can be toxic to grazing animals.  Sorghum contains cyanogenic glucosides, which can be converted to prussic acid when conditions cause the plant cells to rupture.  This can occur after periods of drought, after forage has frozen, or when the plant height is less than 24 inches.  Allowing the plant to form regrowth for several weeks will lower the likelihood of the plant being toxic.  Testing for prussic acid can be done. The highest potential for poisoning occurs when animals consume plant regrowth following a frost or drought.

Drought tolerant and produces high biomass.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  May cause to prussic acid toxicity.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#frost tender#hybrids#tall grass#problem for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#forage#wet soils intolerant#problem for cattle#edible
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#frost tender#hybrids#tall grass#problem for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#forage#wet soils intolerant#problem for cattle#edible
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Sorghum
    Species:
    x drummondii
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Cereal, forage
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    W. Tropical Africa to Sudan
    Distribution:
    Worldwide
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The sweet feed produced by this plant is a great forage for horses and cows.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The stems are slender, under 1/2" thick.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Gastric upset.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    cyanogenic glycosides (dhurrin)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No