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Sporobolus flexuosus (Thurb. ex Vasey) Rydb.

Mesa dropseed

Poaceae (Grass Family)

USDA Symbol: SPFL2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Mesa dropseed is a 1-3 ft. perennial bunchgrass, usually in rather small clumps. The large, loosely-flowered, airy, elongate seedheads have slender branches and branchlets which spread and droop.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: S. UT to s.e. CA, s. to extreme w. TX, AZ & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Mesas; 2500 to 5500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Dry to moist, sandy or gravelly soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

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.

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

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
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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