Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Number of Varieties
33
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-911-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-10
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Broad, Unlobed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
THEOBROMA cacao
Common Name
Indian Grass
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
कोको संयंत्र
In German
Indian Grass
Kakaopflanze
In French
Herbe indienne
usine de cacao
In Spanish
Hierba india
planta del cacao
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
φυτό του κακάο
In Portuguese
grama indianas
planta do cacau
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Kakao roślin
In Latin
Indian Grass
Cocos herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Malvales
Family
Poaceae
Sterculiaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Theobroma
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Theobromeae
Subfamily
-
Byttneroideae
Number of Species
922
1
27800
👆🏻