Spike Dropseed
Sporobolus contractus
John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Sporobolus
- Species:
- Sporobolus contractus
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug, sep, oct
- Bloom Colors:
- Green, Brown
Native Range
United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Mechanical injury of the caryopis or covering layers, pretreatment with potassium nitrate, and 28 days of cold moist stratification.
Establishment: Germination was greater in light than dark; and light was equal to dark. There is a conflicting temperature for germination, with one study suggesting 35D/20N C and another suggesting 30D/15.5N C.
Source: npn.rngr.net