Botanical Name: Sporobolus airoides
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Common Name: Alkali Sacaton; Alkali Dropseed  
Plant photo of: Sporobolus airoides
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

1-3', 3-6'

 

Flower Color

Pink

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape, Spanish, Native Garden

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Mass Planting, Lawn Alternative, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Susan Frommer

  • Description

  • Notes

Alkali dropseed is a warm-season, clumping grass with soft green blades and airy pinkish seed plumes. Clumps grow about 12 to 20 inches, and the plumes can reach 20 to 40 inches. Plumes emerge June and persist until frost. Flowers are excellent for arrangements; the grass is a good choice as a large scale ground cover or for erosion control. Though too tall to replace a traditional lawn, it does make a lovely meadowy-sort of space.
Grow in full sun in any soil that is well drained. Very drought tolerant once established. Cut back in late winter; see Guides.