Poaceae
Arabian grass
Schismus barbatus
Also known as Schismus arabicus var. minutus, Schismus barbatus var. minutus, Schismus calycinus f. nanus, Mediterranean grass
Zones 8–11Sun Partial SunWater LowCare Low
Native Plants · Desert Grass · Drought Tolerant · Xeriscape · Arid · Small Tufts · Minimal Water · Arabian · Dry Conditions · Desert Garden · Hardy
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
An extremely drought-tolerant desert grass that thrives in arid conditions with minimal water. Perfect for xeriscaping and desert gardens where it forms small, neat tufts. Requires excellent drainage and full sun to partial shade.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water sparingly, soil should remain relatively dry · Every 14-28 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Temperature
- 15°F to 110°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 8b-11b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 6 in – 12 in
- Spread
- 6 in
- Spacing
- 4 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Botswana, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Chad, Chile Central, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Free State, Gulf States, Iran, Iraq
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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