# Johnson Grass (*sorghum halepense*)

Johnson Grass is a tall and bushy grass that can grow as high as a person! It has broad green leaves and fluffy seed heads that dance in the wind.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 11
- **Habitat:** Johnson Grass typically grows in warm areas, often found in fields, roadsides, and disturbed lands.
- **Also known as:** American Grass, Sorghum Grass

![Johnson Grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sorghum_halepense-Sorgho_d'Alep-20150622.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Daniel VILLAFRUELA ., CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorghum_halepense-Sorgho_d'Alep-20150622.jpg)

## Appearance

The Johnson Grass has sturdy, upright stems that can reach impressive heights, often topped with a large, airy, purplish-green seed head called a panicle. Its broad, lance-shaped leaves are green with a prominent white midrib, distinguishing it from many other grasses.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Sorghum

## Interesting facts

- It's considered one of the world's worst weeds, spreading super fast!
- Its seeds can stay buried and sprout successfully for over 10 years!
- This grass arrived in the USA from the Mediterranean region in the 1800s!
- Under stress, it can produce a poison dangerous to grazing animals!

## Special abilities

- **Rhizome Power:** Johnson Grass can regrow easily even after being cut because it has strong underground stems called rhizomes that store energy.
- **Super Seed Spreader:** Johnson Grass has seeds that can stay alive in the soil for over a decade, helping it sprout new plants year after year.
- **Rapid Growth Racer:** Johnson Grass can grow incredibly fast, quickly outcompeting other plants for sunlight and nutrients in an area.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-250 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Provides forage, but can be toxic under certain conditions.
- **Depends on:** Maize (*Zea mays*) — Strongly competes with this crop for essential resources.
- **Eats:** Fall Armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — Larvae are a common pest feeding on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Johnson Grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Johnson Grass?

50-250 cm

### How wide does Johnson Grass spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Johnson Grass?

0.1-0.3 cm

### When does Johnson Grass bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Johnson Grass edible?

No

### Is Johnson Grass toxic?

Moderate

### What is Johnson Grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chihuahuan-desert-nature-center-and-botanical-gardens) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden
- [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District
- [Missouri Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/missouri-botanical-garden) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden
- [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District
- [Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shackelford-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District
- [Dayton Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dayton-street-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Johnson Grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/johnson-grass)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Johnson Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/johnson-grass)