Johnson Grass Sorghum halapense

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Johnson GrassSorghum halapense
By Jamie Schneidervin
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Origin

• Originally introduced for feed grain in 1900s
• Later determined to have little nutritional value
• By then it was too late, Johnson Grass had taken
  over

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Descriptives

• Range from Massachusetts To Iowa, Florida to
  Texas, and in Southern California
• 7-8 feet tall
• Leaves are smooth, 6-20 inches long and have
  white mid-vein, they become more purple at the
  base of the plant
• Seeds are reddish brown and 1/8 long

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Growth

• Very rapid
• Rhizomes- under ground runners
• Quickly crowds out other species
• Invades river banks and fallow fields
• Big problem for hay farmers

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Control

• Cutting-off seeds and removing
• Dig out of ground including all rhizomes or plant
  will re-sprout
• Fairly resistant to pesticides, 2 roundup will
  kill them
• Year after year continued control