Sudangrass Sorghum x drummondii
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sudangrass:
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
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are slender, under 1/2" thick.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
