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Sporobolus airoides (Alkali sacaton)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.

Alkali sacaton

Poaceae (Grass Family)

USDA Symbol: SPAI

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a 1-3 ft., warm-season, perennial grass growing in large, tough bunches. Its narrow, gray-green leaves cure blond. The graceful, open seedhead is composed of tiny, reddish spikelets. The name sacaton is derived from the Aztec/Nahuatl word for grass, zacatl.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Fruit Type: Achene , Caryopsis
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , NY , OK , OR , SC , SD , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: ND, TX & Mex., w. to s.e. B.C. & s. CA
Native Habitat: Sandy or gravelly slopes; saline flats; floodplains
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist to dry, alkaline, fine-textured soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type, Saline tolerant
Conditions Comments: Alkali sacaton is tolerant of flooding, drought, and saline-alkaline conditions. It is good for dust control and soil protection on saline-alkaline soils with limited moisture availability.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Sow seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: A variety of treatments, including no pretreatment, have been used. Sowing wet, high diurnal temperature fluctuations, and/or a brief stratification period have given good results.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Groundcover for erosion control
September 23, 2008
I live in southern california. What is the best groundcover to plant on a slope to prevent erosion?
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sporobolus airoides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sporobolus airoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sporobolus airoides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2011-08-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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