Sorghum (Grain Sorghum/Milo)
Sorghum bicolor · Annual Herbaceous Grass (Note: Often tall/robust, but botanically a cereal crop, not a tree)
Plant Family
Poaceae
Tree Category
Grain Crop / Cereal / Forage
Variety / Cultivar
Hybrid Grain Sorghum (Specific variety unidentified at seedling stage)
Hardiness Zones
Grown as an annual in USDA Zones 2-11; requires soil temperatures above 60°F (15°C) to thrive.
About This Tree
A robust, coarse grass that can resemble corn. It grows upright with a dense terminal panicle containing seeds. In the image, these are young seedlings emergining from soil with residue.
Leaf Characteristics
Long, flat, lanceolate leaves with a prominent white midrib; blue-green to bright green color; alternate arrangement; margins are often slightly rough or serrated.
Bark Characteristics
None (Herbaceous stem). The stalk is solid, pithy, and smooth, becoming more fibrous and rigid with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical and warm-temperate regions globally
Growing Season
Warm-season annual; planted in late spring/early summer, blooms mid-summer, harvested in fall
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun; high drought tolerance once established; requires moderate watering during germination and heading.
Mature Size
Mature height 2 to 8 feet depending on variety; spread is approx. 12 inches; fast growth rate; annual lifespan.
Special Characteristics
Extremely drought and heat tolerant; efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway; used for grain, syrup, forage, and biofuel.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides high-energy grain for birds (upland game birds, songbirds) and deer; stalks provide cover for small mammals; flowers support various pollinators.