Sporobolus airoides (Alkali Sacaton)

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. From early summer to late fall, a cloudy haze of slightly reddish seed heads rise on tall, erect stems above the foliage mound. The small mature seeds drop to the ground in the fall. The seeds provide food for birds and the thick foliage offers protected shelter for nesting. Tough and beautiful, Alkali Sacaton is tolerant of flooding, drought, and saline-alkaline conditions. Undemanding, virtually disease and pest free, Alkali Sacaton provides weeks of interest in the landscape, adding soft color, texture and graceful movement. It is often used as an ornamental landscape grass. Its deep, penetrating roots make it a popular choice for erosion control.

• Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 2 ft. across (60 cm).
• Performs best in full sun in sandy or gravelly, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Intolerant of shade, this plant is not fussy about soils and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including clay, alkaline, salty and caliche type soils. Drought tolerant once established, this plant tolerates seasonal flooding too.
• Excellent choice for rock gardens, prairie plantings, as an accent plant or as a groundcover. Stands of this grass stabilize eroding soil.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
• Propagated by seed.
• 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.