Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Panicum obtusum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Brachiaria obtusa.

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked as a whole grain or ground into a powder and used as a flour with cornmeal[46, 61, 105, 183]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize, though it has a pleasant, mild flavour and can e used as a staple food[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.

More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Hair Soil stabilization

An infusion of the leaves is said to be a good wash for making the hair grow more quickly[257]. The dried and powdered stolons can be mixed with soapweed (Yucca species) and used as a tonic hair shampoo[257]. This species is occasionally planted for erosion control[274].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun[200]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. The plant can produce stolons more than 2 metres long[236] and so has the potential to spread considerably[K].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a week. Prick out the seedlings into trays or individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[200, K]. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Utah), Mexico (Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco (northeast), Puebla, Querétaro)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Panicum antidotale	Blue Panic Grass, Blue panicum	Perennial	3.0	0-0		LMH	N	M	1	1	0
Panicum capillare	Old Witch Grass, Witchgrass	Annual	0.6	4-8		LMH	N	M	2	1	1
Panicum decompositum	Native Millet, Australian millet	Perennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	N	M	2	0
Panicum maximum	Guinea grass. Green panic grass	Perennial	2.0	10-12	F	LM	FSN	DM	1	2	2
Panicum miliaceum	European Millet	Annual	1.0	10-12		LMH	N	DM	3	2	2
Panicum sonorum	Sauwi, Mexican panicgrass	Annual	1.0	0-0		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Panicum turgidum	Desert Grass. Turgid panic grass, Afezu	Perennial	1.5	10-12	F	LM	N	DM	2	0	2
Panicum urvilleanum	Desert Panicgrass	Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Panicum virgatum	Switch Grass	Perennial	1.8	10-12	F	LM	N	DM	0	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Panicum obtusum - Kunth.