Herb: Giant Dropseed


Latin name: Sporobolus giganteus


Family: Gramineae (Grass Family)



Edible parts of Giant Dropseed:

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a flour and cooked as a porridge, or can be used as a cereal substitute when making bread, cakes etc. An easily harvested seed, but it is very small and its use as a food has almost disappeared.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
2 m
(6 1/2 foot)

Habitat of the herb:

Mesas and sandhills.

Propagation of Giant Dropseed:

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation of the herb:

Mesas and sandhills.

Medicinal use of Giant Dropseed:

None known

Known hazards of Sporobolus giganteus:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.