Alkali Sacaton

Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. - Grass family

Size

Mature Height: Up to around 3.0 feet

Plant Type: Graminoid

Root Depth: 16 inches

Growth Form: Bunch

Growth Rate: Moderate

Features

Flower Color: Yellow

Conspicuous Flowers: No

Bloom Time: Mid Summer

Seasonal Growth: Spring and Summer

Evergreen: No

Fall Colors: No

Conditions

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Clay Soil Tolerance: Yes

Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: High

Flood Tolerance: Medium

Fire Tolerance: Medium

Salt Tolerance: High

Ecosystem Interactions

Pollinators: Nesting and Structure (Bees); Larval Host (Moth); Wind

Larval Species depending on Alkali Sacaton: Bucculatrix sporobolella, Hemileuca oliviae

Native Range

  • USA:  Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
  • CAN:  British Columbia
  • MEX:  Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southwest
Regional Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.