Sporobolus virginicus
Sporobolus virginicus
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Sporobolus virginicus is widely spread through the warm temperate to tropical regions of the world, growing mainly in coastal areas and adapted to low rainfall and high salinity[1]. Often found wild in sand dunes, the plant also does well in a variety of different soils from clays to sands[1]. The plant is well adapted for growing in low-fertility soils[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. Although Sporobolus virginicus does produce seed, very little of it is viable. The only practical way to propagate it is by vegetative rhizomatous slips[1].
Propagation
Seed - the plants often produce very little viable seed. If seed is available, sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover. 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 of the rhizomes. Actively growing rhizomes should be selected for propagation - cutting back the top growth a few weeks prior to division can increase rhizome growth. Cut the rhizomes into sections 7 - 10cm long and plant in a sterile, well drained medium in a greenhouse. Keep in 50% shade until the divisions are rooting well and then place in a sunny position and grow on until large enough to plant out. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Sporobolus+virginicus>
Pollinators
Wind
References
- [1]Plants Database — United States Department of Agriculture · http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet ↩︎An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
- [2]Manual of the Grasses of the United States — Hitchcock. A. S. · Dover Publications. New York. · 1971 · ISBN 0-486-22717-0 ↩︎A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
- [3]Grassland Species - Profiles — http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm ↩︎Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.