Pearl millet

Pennisetum glaucum

annual3.5×2.5 mzone 7–10full sun

Will it grow where I live?

Pearl millet is an annual and grows outdoors across Central Europe – one season from spring sowing to autumn harvest. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Poaceae
Habit: annual
Height: 3.5 m
Spread: 2.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 1 year
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 7–10
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5 – 7.5

Uses

Edible3 of 10

Medicinal3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Pearl millet: how big does it get?

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 3.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 2.5 m. Growth is medium.

Pearl millet: what site does it need?

Pearl millet tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5 and 7.5.

Pearl millet: is it hardy?

Pearl millet is listed as hardy in zone 7–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Pearl millet: will it grow in Central Europe?

Pearl millet: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Pearl millet. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Pearl millet: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 3/10, Medicinal 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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