Sorghum bicolor
Sorghum
(c) L.J. Lamera, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by L.J. Lamera · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by (S. halepense). Key differences in ligule length and inflorescence compactness.
Sorghum is a naturalized perennial found in coastal and inland California regions including the North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Central Valley, Central Coast, Southern Coast, Western Transverse Ranges, and Desert areas at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces inconspicuous flowers in open to compact panicles up to six decimeters long. Growing with tall, erect stems one to two and a half meters high, it develops broad leaf blades five to one hundred centimeters long and three to five centimeters wide. Its leaves have a distinctive ligule one to four millimeters long, and the plant can form spreading or stiffly erect branches. The spikelets are typically four to nine millimeters long, with some developing awns up to thirty millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (S. halepense). Key differences in ligule length and inflorescence compactness.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, roadsides
Elevation: < 600 m
California counties: Tulare, Yolo, Marin, Santa Clara, Kern, Fresno, San Bernardino, Orange, San Mateo, Monterey, Riverside, Ventura, Lake, Los Angeles, Sutter, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Alameda, Butte, Imperial, Colusa, Kings, San Diego, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Napa, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Contra Costa, Tehama, Santa Cruz
Outside California: native to Africa
Bloom period
Sorghum bicolor blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Zea: Sorghum has terminal three-spikelet clusters in open panicles; corn has separate male tassels and female ears.; vs Echinochloa: Sorghum has three-spikelet groups at branch tips; barnyard grass has single spikelets and no ligule.; vs Panicum: Sorghum has three-spikelet terminal clusters; panicgrass has single spikelets throughout the panicle.; vs Rumex: Sorghum is a grass with three-spikelet clusters; dock has broad leaves and papery winged fruits.; vs Phyllostachys: Sorghum has soft herbaceous stems and three-spikelet clusters; bamboo has hard woody stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sorghum bicolor native to California?
No. Sorghum bicolor is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Sorghum bicolor bloom?
Sorghum bicolor blooms All year.
Where in California does Sorghum bicolor grow?
Sorghum bicolor occurs in Tulare, Yolo, Marin, Santa Clara, Kern, Fresno, San Bernardino, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 600 m.
What plant family does Sorghum bicolor belong to?
Sorghum bicolor is in the Poaceae family, genus Sorghum.
What habitat does Sorghum bicolor grow in?
Sorghum bicolor grows in Disturbed areas, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.