Grass · Sonoran native
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides · Poaceae
Also called: Alkali dropseed, Zacaton alcalino
Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) is a low-water grass native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun.
Alkali Sacaton at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun.
- Mature size
- 2-3 ft H x 2-3 ft W (airy flower panicles to 3-4 ft)
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast; long-lived, robust warm-season bunchgrass.
- Bloom
- Large, open, airy panicles, pinkish to silvery-tan, giving a soft cloud-like effect; ages to golden straw., Summer through fall (June-October), driven by monsoon moisture.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about -20 to -30 F; roughly USDA zones 4-9. Fully hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Highly tolerant of saline, alkaline, and clay soils as well as sandy/loamy ground; one of the most salt-tolerant native grasses. Prefers areas where water collects but adapts to drier sites.
- Native range
- Native to the western U.S. and northern Mexico, including Arizona and the Sonoran Desert; common in valley bottoms, swales, and alkaline flats.
- Best used as
- Accent and screening grass for its large soft form, Reclamation/revegetation of saline and alkaline soils, Erosion control in swales and detention basins, Naturalistic and meadow plantings, Forage
- Wildlife
- Provides cover and nesting habitat; abundant tiny seeds (dropseed) are valuable food for birds and small mammals.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; a useful forage grass.
How to grow Alkali Sacaton in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established; survives on rainfall but looks fullest with deep watering every 2-4 weeks in summer. Tolerates periodic flooding and saline irrigation water. Reduce in winter.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; generally none required in landscapes. Tolerates poor soil well; a light spring feeding is optional on very lean sites.
Pruning & care
Cut back to 4-6 inches in late winter (February) to remove old growth before spring regrowth; otherwise low maintenance.
Notes
A tough, long-lived native well suited to Tucson basins and turf-alternative plantings, especially where soil is salty or alkaline. Its billowy panicles add fine ornamental texture and catch light attractively.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; USDA NRCS Plant Guide