Sorghum bicolor Seeds | Red Sorghum
LATIN NAME: Sorghum bicolor
COMMON NAME: Red Sorghum
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Red Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor is a noteworthy species in the grass family. Red sorghum brooms tall, sturdy stems with broad, ribbon-like leaves and dense, upright heads of round, glossy, red-brown grains that ripen through late summer, heads standing bold above the foliage. Grains hold firm in heads, and they dry well for the storage. It likes sun, and deep, moist, rich soil. Together these qualities explain its long-standing appeal to gardeners.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Sorghum bicolor, a representative of the grass family with clear practical value. In grass family, sorghums have a long, practical record in dry-land grain research, and red-grained forms appear in studies of drought tolerance and grain chemistry. The upshot for anyone sowing it is reassurance — cultivated stock of this plant has a long, well-documented track record.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Red Sorghum has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In sunny garden and field, red sorghum feeds and stands tall. Red-brown heads serve flour, porridge, syrup and drinks for generations, grains feed birds and livestock, and dried heads make bouquets and the brooms. It thrives in deep, moist, rich, sunny ground and stands dry spells well. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Sorghum is a gluten-free, drought-proof grain rich in polyphenols, feeding half a billion people and yielding syrup, forage and biofuel.
Growing from Seed
Red Sorghum grows readily from seed. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Few garden plants carry such a documented history of use as this one does. Given the right start, Red Sorghum is a long-term garden companion. Minor errors in timing or watering rarely cost the grower the crop.
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