SPOROBOLUS. A large genus of grasses, with nearly worldwide distribution. Those of interest here are natives of California and the Southwest. Their most notable feature is their airy clusters of tiny one-flowered spikelets. The following are beautiful grasses for banks, borders and naturalistic meadows. Sun, many soils, moderate to occasional watering when established. The following are winter-deciduous and hardy to 0^oF. or less.

airoides. Alkali dropseed. A perennial native grass of deceptively delicate appearance. It makes attractive fountains of narrow, greyish green leaves. Wiry stems rise as much as 6’ from the clumps in summer, carrying broad, widely branched clusters with hundreds of tiny flower heads. These are pinkish to purplish at first, gradually changing to pale tan and remaining showy for months.

wrightii. Sacaton. An elegant southwestern species, as much as 7’ tall in flower. It forms substantial clumps, with arching deep green leaves up to 3’ long. Above these are carried long, shining golden plumes of flowers in summer.