Panicum miliaceum aka Proso Millet

Panicum miliaceum is an annual grass in the Poaceae family. Its names include common millet, proso millet, and broom millet. People have grown this grain for more than 5,000 years. Its long crop history makes its native range hard to trace. Useful Tropical Plants suggests eastern Asia, while Missouri Botanical Garden lists Europe. It now grows as a crop across many regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It also grows on waste ground in Britain.

The plant forms upright clumps with shallow roots and many shoots. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) tall. Some plants stand just 1 foot (0.3 metres) high. Clumps spread about 0.3–1.6 feet (0.1–0.5 metres) across. Flat, narrow leaves reach about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) long. The green leaves can show a purple tint. Slender flower heads can reach 1.5 feet (0.45 metres) long. Their loose panicles bend slightly and hold small spikelets. The flowers are green with purple tones. Missouri Botanical Garden lists July bloom; RHS gives late summer. Wind carries the pollen, and plants can set seed themselves.

Grow this millet in full sun and soil that drains well. RHS recommends soil with a fair supply of nutrients. Chalk, loam, and sand suit it, though coarse sand is less suitable. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. Dry to moist conditions suit it, and it withstands drought. It can also grow on poor, shallow soils. Sow seed in early spring. The plant reaches its full size within one year. RHS rates it H4, while Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 2–11.

Use it as a grain crop or in garden borders. RHS also suggests gravel gardens, meadow plantings, and coastal sites. The stems can supply cut flowers, and birds visit the crop. Most plants have few pest or disease problems. Young plants compete poorly with weeds. Seedling blight and root rot can occur; crop rotation helps control them. Birds and rodents may damage seed heads as they ripen. The species can become weedy outside planted areas.

The seeds provide food when cooked whole or milled into flour. People use the flour in bread, pasta, and fermented foods. The grain has a nutty taste and contains no gluten. Sprouted seeds also serve as food. Seed starch has a use in textile sizing. Leaves supply fibre for paper. Traditional remedies use seeds and roots, but these uses do not establish medical benefit. Plants For A Future and Useful Tropical Plants report no known hazards.