🌾 Fonio

Digitaria exilis

grains annual grass

☀️ Sun

full sun

💧 Water

low (very drought-tolerant)

🗺️ Zones

[8,9,10,11]

🧪 Soil pH

5.0-7.0

🪴 Soil Type

well-drained, sandy, tolerates poor

📏 Spacing

4-6 inches

📐 Height

12-20 inches

⏱️ Maturity

60-70 days

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (5)

🤝 Millet

Both fast-maturing drought-tolerant grains

🤝 Sesame

Companion in Sahel farming systems; sesame attracts pollinators

🤝 cowpea

Traditional West African intercropping , fonio between cowpea rows

⚠️ Keep Apart (0)

No known enemies listed.

📝 Growing Notes

World's fastest-maturing cereal and possibly oldest cultivated grain. Each seed is smaller than a grain of sand. Naturally gluten-free. Nutrient-dense , high in methionine and cysteine (amino acids missing in most grains).

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

Plot Buddies is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our plant recommendations. We only link to retailers we trust.