1. Blue Wildrye – Elymus glaucus ssp glaucus
(EL-i-mus GLAW-kus)
Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
Native to: Much of western North America from Alaska to Mexico, including much of CA; one of the
most common grasses of the West, growing in grassland, chaparral, woodland, and forest.
perennial bunchgrass
mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Cool-season bunchgrass with relatively coarse, blue-green leaves. Upright, loose to dense tufts.
Green stems slowly turn straw colored in the fall, dropping seeds and leaving thin twisted empty
stalks behind until another growing season. Rapid establishment but short-lived (3-4 years).
Growth characteristics:
Blooms summer (June-July). Flowers & seed heads on waving stems above the
foliage (to 4-5+ ft tall). Quite showy well into fall.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Very useful for erosion control, particularly in hot, dry gardens and on sand
dunes. Short-lived, so often planted as a nurse plant or filler plant in young gardens. Good as a
natural-looking ornamental grass or in pot. Not for lawns – not sod-forming. Seeds are edible.
Stems used by Native Californians for making mats, rope.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ornamental grasses, including ryegrasses.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Browse for larger animals.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun (along immediate coast) to part shade.
Well-drained soils; happiest in sandy soils. No low pH soils (< 5.5)
Wide tolerance for summer water; Zone 1-2 (will turn golden) to 2-3 (stays green
longer). Withhold water in late summer for best seed set. Seasonal flooding OK.
None.
Moderate salt- & alkali tolerant.
Easy to grow from seed.
Short-lived but a good re-seeder.
Management:
Propagation: from seed:
Competes well with other (including non-native) grasses.
easy in pots or prepared beds
by divisions: yes, probably easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-5, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21
11/28/10
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