Big Sacaton
Sporobolus wrightii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Sporobolus
- Species:
- Sporobolus wrightii
- USDA Symbol:
- SPWR2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 250 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bucculatrix sporobolella, Olivia's buckmoth (Hemileuca oliviae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan, gold
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Historically maintained by periodic grassland fires.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with warm temperatures and light. No pretreatment typically required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Inoculating soil with mycorrhizal fungi, especially when sites are highly degraded and unlikely to have extant mycorrhizal populations
Establishment: This species was previously classified as a variety of alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides). It is found from 2,000-5,000 feet along river banks and dry, sandy, open sites. Its range has significantly declined over the past century--it now occurs in less than 5% of its original range.
Source: npn.rngr.net