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Alkali sacaton is a native perennial large bunchgrass ranging in height from 50 to 150 cm (20-60 inches). The leaves are flat, 2-6 mm (1/16-1/4 inches) wide, and taper from the base of the leaf. The inflorescence is an open panicle 20-50 cm (8-20 inches) long with a pyramidal shape.
Sporobolus airoides is a species of grass known by the common name alkali sacaton. [1] It is native to western North America, including the Western United States west of the Mississippi River, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and northern and central Mexico. It grows in many types of habitat, often in alkali soils, such as in California desert regions.
Long-lived, Sporobolus airoides (Alkali Sacaton) is a warm-season, densely tufted perennial grass forming attractive bunches of long narrow arching leaves. The fine textured leaves range in color from silvery-green in summer to golden with orange hues in the fall and fade to light bronze in winter.
Alkalai sacaton is a tough grass that is found in dry habitats including sage scrub, grassland and deserts. Its clumping habit and drought endurance make it good for Southwestern style gardens and for contrast to other foliage plants.
Description: Alkali sacaton is an adaptable, durable, and attractive grass with great potential as an ornamental. Medium-sized in stature, this species provides an extended season of beauty with its long-lasting, airy, pinkish seed heads. The tough, fibrous foliage begins growing in early spring.
Sporobolus airoides, or Alkali dropseed, is a warm-season, perennial, ornamental bunchgrass native to western and central United States and often found in saline flats, prairies and sands, and meadows and valleys with moderately saline soils (hence the alkali common name).
Wildlife: Alkali sacaton’s abundant herbage is eaten by cattle, sheep, and horses (Hitchock 1951). This species is used as a good forage or grazing grass in lowland and in alkali regions (Gates 1937).
