Sorghum
Sorghum bicolor
Drought-tough grain and syrup cane; birds love the seed heads.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 8 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: September to October
From: Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 3 to 11.
The story
Northeastern Africa. Ohio Valley farms boiled sweet-sorghum juice into syrup every fall.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: any well-drained (pH 5.5–7.5). Spacing: 6–12 inches apart in rows. Pollination: wind.
Growing
Water: very drought-tolerant. Winter: Cut the stalks for mulch or chop-and-drop. Spring: Sow after the soil warms to 60°F. Summer: It shades and screens the fence line. Fall: Press sweet types for syrup, or leave heads for birds.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Sep–Oct. First crop: one season (annual).
What to watch for
Lodging (falling over) in storms; birds take the seed.
See if Sorghum fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home