Elephant Grass
Scientific Name: Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Pennisetum Rich. ex Pers./ Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
| General Information |
| Usda Symbol | PEPU2 |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | PEPU2 |
Plant Guide
Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Elephant Grass.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
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| Hedge Tolerance | None |
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| Hedge Tolerance | None |
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| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 365 |
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| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 365 |
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| Fire Tolerance | High |
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| Fire Tolerance | High |
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| Fertility Requirement | Medium |
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| Fertility Requirement | High |
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| Drought Tolerance | High |
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| Drought Tolerance | High |
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| Cold Stratification Required | No |
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| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 17 |
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| CaCO3 Tolerance | None |
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| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
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| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
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| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
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| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Moisture Use | Medium |
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| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 17 |
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| Shade Tolerance | Intolerant |
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| Shade Tolerance | Intolerant |
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| Salinity Tolerance | None |
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| Salinity Tolerance | None |
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| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 14 |
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| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 14 |
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| Precipitation, Minimum | 36 |
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| Precipitation, Minimum | 36 |
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| Precipitation, Maximum | 100 |
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| Precipitation, Maximum | 100 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 1700 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 1700 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 4800 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 4800 |
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| pH, Minimum | 5.2 |
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| pH, Minimum | 5.2 |
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| pH, Maximum | 8.7 |
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| pH, Maximum | 6.8 |
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| Moisture Use | Medium |
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Morphology/Physiology
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
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| Toxicity | None |
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| Toxicity | None |
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| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
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| Fall Conspicuous | No |
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| Foliage Porosity Winter | Dense |
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| Foliage Porosity Winter | Dense |
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| Foliage Porosity Summer | Dense |
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| Foliage Porosity Summer | Dense |
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| Foliage Color | Green |
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| Foliage Color | Green |
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| Flower Conspicuous | No |
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| Flower Conspicuous | No |
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| Flower Color | Yellow |
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| Fire Resistant | No |
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| Fire Resistant | No |
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| Resprout Ability | No |
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| Fall Conspicuous | No |
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| Coppice Potential | No |
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| Coppice Potential | No |
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| C:N Ratio | Medium |
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| C:N Ratio | Medium |
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| Bloat | None |
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| Bloat | None |
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| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
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| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
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| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
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| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
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| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
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| Resprout Ability | No |
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| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
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| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
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| Low Growing Grass | No |
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| Low Growing Grass | No |
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| Lifespan | Long |
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| Lifespan | Long |
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| Leaf Retention | No |
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| Leaf Retention | No |
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| Known Allelopath | No |
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| Known Allelopath | No |
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| Height, Mature (feet) | 10.0 |
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| Height, Mature (feet) | 10.0 |
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| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
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| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
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| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
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| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
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| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
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| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
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| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
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| Growth Rate | Rapid |
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| Growth Rate | Rapid |
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Reproduction
| Propagated by Seed | No |
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| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
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| Propagated by Sod | No |
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| Propagated by Sod | No |
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| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
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| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
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| Propagated by Tubers | No |
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| Propagated by Tubers | No |
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| Seed per Pound | 1402000 |
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| Seed Spread Rate | None |
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| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
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| Seed Spread Rate | None |
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| Seedling Vigor | Low |
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| Small Grain | No |
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| Small Grain | No |
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| Vegetative Spread Rate | Slow |
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| Vegetative Spread Rate | Slow |
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| Propagated by Cuttings | Yes |
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| Propagated by Cuttings | Yes |
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| Bloom Period | Mid Summer |
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| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
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| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
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| Fruit/Seed Abundance | Low |
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| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Summer |
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| Fruit/Seed Period End | Fall |
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| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
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| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
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| Propagated by Bulb | No |
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| Propagated by Bulb | No |
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| Propagated by Container | No |
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| Propagated by Container | No |
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| Propagated by Corm | No |
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| Propagated by Corm | No |
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| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
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Suitability/Use
| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
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| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
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| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
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| Palatable Human | No |
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| Palatable Human | No |
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| Post Product | No |
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| Post Product | No |
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| Protein Potential | Medium |
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| Protein Potential | Medium |
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| Pulpwood Product | No |
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| Pulpwood Product | No |
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| Veneer Product | No |
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| Veneer Product | No |
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| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
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| Nursery Stock Product | No |
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| Nursery Stock Product | No |
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| Naval Store Product | No |
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| Naval Store Product | No |
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| Lumber Product | No |
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| Lumber Product | No |
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| Fodder Product | Yes |
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| Fodder Product | Yes |
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| Christmas Tree Product | No |
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| Christmas Tree Product | No |
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| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
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| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
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