The tropical grass species Pennisetum clandestinum is known by several common names, most often kikuyu grass, as it is native to the region of East Africa that is home to the Kĩkũyũ tribe. Because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature, it is categorised as a noxious weed in some regions. However, it is also a popular garden lawn species in Australia and South Africa because it is cheap and drought-tolerant. In addition it is useful as pasture for livestock grazing. This grass is eaten by several turtle's species as geochelone sulcata, astrochelys radiata and geochelone pardalis.

Orach is usually grown in the vegetable garden for its tender, spinachlike leaves, but some gardeners know it as a colorful foliage plant in the flower bed.