Sorghum Sudan 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 5 through 11 and shrugs off dry spells.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
5-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
60
Score Sorghum Sudan on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether sorghum sudan actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score sorghum sudan against your land's real conditions.
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See Sorghum Sudan
What Sorghum Sudan is
Sorghum Sudan grows as an annual and reaches around eight feet at maturity. It blooms in late summer.
How to grow Sorghum Sudan
Sorghum Sudan grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Sorghum Sudan does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,000 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
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
60 days
Sorghum-sudangrass; warm-season summer cover; high biomass.
SARE; MidwestCC
GDD Required
2000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
8 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
90+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant sorghum sudan in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Sorghum Sudan prefers pH 5 to 8.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Turn it in before it seeds
Cut sorghum sudan 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
One caution for pet owners — sorghum sudan is toxic to dogs and cats and horses (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sorghum Sudan isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Sorghum Sudan thrives
Sorghum Sudan is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. 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 5–11·Where Sorghum Sudan growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sorghum Sudan can grow in these states:
See if Sorghum Sudan will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sorghum sudan actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Sorghum Sudan in my zone?
Sorghum Sudan grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (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 Sorghum Sudan?
Most growers plant sorghum sudan 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 Sorghum Sudan need?
Sorghum Sudan 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 Sorghum Sudan need?
Sorghum Sudan prefers soil pH 5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sorghum Sudan attract pollinators?
Sorghum Sudan isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Sorghum Sudan safe for pets?
Sorghum Sudan is toxic to pets (dogs,cats,horses) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.