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vetiver

Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty

Family: Poaceae · Genus: Chrysopogon

khus

Placenta II Low Mulch biomass 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Perennial grass with deep vertical roots (up to 4 m), originally from India. The Bosque de Niebla Guidebook recommends vetiver as a hedgerow species on steep terrain — forms terraces in just 8 months by holding back soil and water. Non-invasive (no stolons), excellent for erosion control on sloped agroforestry plots.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, Andropogon zizanioides (L.) Urb.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
High
Soil pH range
4.5–8
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
7–11

Morphology

Mature height
1–2 m
Recommended spacing
0.1–0.2 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
≥ 30 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Vetiver takes the Low stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈2 m Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Dense, massively vertical root system growing downward to 4 m or more — it does not compete laterally with neighbouring crops, which makes it ideal as a contour hedgerow to check erosion. Tolerates a wide pH range (4.5–8, enduring 3–9.9), prolonged drought, occasional waterlogging and submergence. Prefers full sun; plant slips close together (10–20 cm) in the row to form a continuous barrier.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for vetiver?

The recommended spacing for vetiver is 0.1–0.2 m.

How tall does vetiver grow?

At maturity, vetiver reaches 1–2 m tall.

What stage and stratum does vetiver occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, vetiver belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

🌿 Biomass producer Soil decompactor Windbreak Living fence Aromatic

Propagation

Division

Citations

  1. Bosque de Niebla (2019) — Syntropic Farming Guidebook, Vetiver System , p. 39 (primary_stratum, functions)
  2. PFAF Plant Database — Chrysopogon zizanioides (ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, drought_tolerance, waterlogging_tolerance, root_depth, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
  3. POWO / Kew — Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (powo_id, synonyms, genus)
  4. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Chrysopogon zizanioides (gbif_taxon_key)

External references

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