Heterogeneous population composed of small plants, around 150cm, which produce numerous tillers throughout the summer.

The panicles, of variable densities, carrying orange to red grains and of slightly variable size from one plant to another.

Although some plants showed signs of longevity until February/March, none survived the winter of 2023.

Accession history:

Originally bred by Tim Peters, a prolific producer of breakthrough genetics, and owner of the (now closed) nursery: Peters Seed & Research in Oregon from an interspecific hybrid between Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum halepense.

In 2005, Tim Peters gave seeds to Sarah Kleeger and Andrew Still of the Adaptive Seeds nursery in Oregon.

In 2016, Nate Kleinman of Experimental Farm Network received two panicles from Sarah Kleeger and Andrew Still. He grew these plants in Elmer, New Jersey.

During the first cultivation, one individual managed to survive the winter, where the temperature dropped to 12 degrees Fahrenheit (or approximately -11°C) at the coldest of winter.  

However, the plant failed to survive its second winter, where the temperature dropped to 6 degrees Fahrenheit (or approximately -14°C).  

The seeds of this plant were sown, and 4 plants survived the following winter.

Seeds from the surviving plants were compiled and the population was renamed: 'M61 Survivor'.

During the winter of 2022, Joran's Seeds and Research purchased seeds from Experimental Farm Network.

In 2023, cultivation was carried out side by side with perennial forage sorghums cv. 'Silk' 'Silk' has a very different morphology from that of 'M61': it produces vegetation 2.5m to 3.5m high, a few short rhizomes, the panicles are very airy and are similar to those of S. halepense, as well as the color and shape of its seeds.

This way, hybrids, if there are any, will be easy to distinguish.

Seeds grown in open pollination with 'Silk'.