Common Name: Big Sacaton

General Information

Sporobolus wrightii is an evergreen, perennial grass that forms dense clumps up to 90cm in diameter. It is a coarse, upright plant with culms 90 - 250cm tall[, ].
The plant is often used in revegetation and soil stabilization projects in southwestern N. America.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central and southern N. America - California to Utah and Oklahoma, south to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico

Habitat

Mesas and valleys[]. Found mainly on low alluvial flats, bottomlands, and arroyos subject to flooding; at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is found in the wild primarily on heavier soils in lowland or wetland sites. It is tolerant of highly alkaline and saline soil, and can tolerate poorly drained soils and seasonally flooded areas. It is also found on open areas such as rocky slopes, plateaus, and mesas[]. It generally grows on sand, sandy loam, silty clay loam, and saline soils[].
Plants are top-killed by fire, they usually regrow freely from the roots unless the fire has been hot enough to damage them[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Big sacaton may be used in pure stands or as part of a rangeland seeding mix for highly alkaline soils. It is useful for revegetating saline soils throughout the Southwest of N. America. It performs well as a grass hedge terrace or windstrip for erosion control. It helps stabilize watershed structures, stream banks and flood plain areas. Big sacaton is also useful for wildlife cover[].
The plant is important for impeding erosion in areas where flash floods occur[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.