How to Grow Siratro

Macroptilium atropurpureum · Zones 9-13

Siratro is a cover crop — grown to build and protect the soil rather than for a harvest of its own. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 13 and shrugs off dry spells. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.

Zones

9-13

pH Range

4.5-8.5

Sun

Full Sun

Days to Maturity

90

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What Siratro is

Siratro grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms in summer.

How to grow Siratro

Siratro grows in USDA zones 9 through 13. Siratro does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 90 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.

USDA Zones

9-13

USDA PHZM 2023

Soil pH

4.5 - 8.5

USDA PLANTS Database

Sun

Full Sun

Growable Ground plant catalog

Drainage

well (dry spells)

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost Tolerance

55.4°F

The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.

Growable Ground plant catalog

Days to Maturity

90 days

Growable Ground plant catalog

GDD Required

2500+

Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.

Growable Ground plant catalog

Mature Height

1.5 ft

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost-Free Days

90+

The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.

Growable Ground plant catalog

  1. Start the season right

    Plant siratro in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.

  2. Match the soil

    Siratro prefers pH 4.5 to 8.5 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.

  4. Turn it in before it seeds

    Cut siratro down or turn it into the soil before it sets seed, while the growth is still green — that's when it returns the most to the ground.

Good to know

Good news for pet owners — siratro isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)

Siratro offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.

Where Siratro thrives

Siratro is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.

Zones 9–13 highlighted on the USDA national hardiness zone map

Zones 9–13·Where Siratro growsOpen map →

Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.

On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Siratro can grow in these states:

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See if Siratro will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether siratro actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow Siratro in my zone?

Siratro grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

When should you plant Siratro?

Most growers plant siratro after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 90-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Siratro need?

Siratro needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.

What soil does Siratro need?

Siratro prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Siratro attract pollinators?

Yes — siratro's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.

Is Siratro safe for pets?

Siratro is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)