Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Johnsongrass, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Stem

Up to 8 ft. tall; many tillers arise from crown; stems slightly flattened with prominent nodes

Leaves

Up to 2 ft. long, 0.25-0.75 in. wide, white midvein and mostly hairless except near collar; ligule is membranous and tipped with fine hairs; NO auricles

Photo of johnsongrass adult plant growing outside

Flower

Seedhead open and pyramid-shaped; purplish-brown at maturity
Seed is narrow, less than 0.25 in. long and reddish-brown to black

Photo of dark brown and tan colored johnsongrass seeds

Photo of Johnsongrass seeds

Root

Deep, fibrous root system; rhizomes are white and fleshy with brown to purple nodes; roots and new plants often form at nodes

Other

Grows best in moist soils; often found in crop fields, pastures, fencerows, roadsides, and along waterways; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln, and Lyon counties
Perennial; reproduces by seed and rhizomes; seedlings resemble corn and can best be identified by pulling a plant and examining the roots for an attached seed
Plants can be toxic to livestock after frost or drought

Control

Frequent mowing or tillage is effective; burning is NOT
Apply fenoxaprop, fluazifop, or sethoxydim to actively growing plants before boot stage; glyphosate, imazapic, or imazapyr between boot and bloom stages

Learn more about the author(s)

Teresa Byington

Anne R. Lindsay

Also of Interest:


A Balanced Diet A balanced diet gives your body all of the essential nutrients it needs to stay active, healthy, and strong. Learn how you can balance your diet to get the energy you need throughout the day. Buffington, A., Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-106
Healthy Kids Resource Center: Policies, Procedures & Partners Section Find links to Federal and State policies and regulations Lindsay, A. and Taylor, S. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Women in science: a Q&A with CABNR pet food mercury researchers Professor Mae Gustin and fellow researchers Lindsay Chichester, Sarrah Dunham-Cheatam, Adriel Luippold and Margarita (Maggie) Vargas-Estrada talk about their work and answer related questions Andrews, A. 2019, Nevada Today

Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Johnsongrass