Sporobolus helvolus

Sporobolus helvolus

Native to:
Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Sporobolus
Species:
Sporobolus helvolus
USDA Symbol:
SPHE6

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep,oct

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fall Color:
tan, golden
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from the base after fire; benefits from periodic burning to remove thatch and stimulate growth.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Native to arid regions, prefers open, sunny locations

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Warm-season grass; germinates readily in warm soil temperatures without pretreatment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI