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Canada Wild Rye Elymus canadensis

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Elymus brachystachys
  • Elymus wiegandii
Phonetic Spelling
EL-ih-mus ka-nah-DEN-sis
Description

Canada wild rye is a cool-season short-lived bunchgrass in the Poaceae family. It is widely distributed throughout North America including North Carolina but is most abundant in the central and Great Plains. It can be found in a variety of habitats including, dunes, woodlands, prairies, savannas and disturbed areas.

This grass prefers full sun to half shade in moist well-drained soils. It will grow 2-5 feet tall and spread by short rhizomes 2 to 3 feet wide. The roots form a symbiotic relationship with a fungus and get about 25% of needed nutrients this way. It is moderately drought tolerant once established. Propagation is by division and seeds.

Canda wild rye leaves are sheathed and up to 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and grow upright to arching near the top in clumps. The flowers grow on a spike 3 to 10 inches long with groups of 2 to 3 spikelets at each node. As the spikelets fall off they leave light tan awls. The awns are barbed which can cause eye damage for dogs so avoid planting where your pets play.

This grass is used in restoration projects and stabilizing eroding areas. Home use includes using on banks and slopes and naturalized areas.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Homestead'
    Produces larger amounts of forage and has higher digestibility
'Homestead'
Tags:
#rain garden#low maintenance#slopes#ornamental grass#erosion control#cool season grass#naturalized area#prairies#meadow#restoration projects
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Homestead'
    Produces larger amounts of forage and has higher digestibility
'Homestead'
Tags:
#rain garden#low maintenance#slopes#ornamental grass#erosion control#cool season grass#naturalized area#prairies#meadow#restoration projects
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Elymus
    Species:
    canadensis
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Seed were consumed by Gosiute Indians. Use for grazing livestock.
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , MB , NB , NS , ON , QC , SK
    Wildlife Value:
    Larval host to the Zabulon skipper butterfly. Grazed by cattle, provides nesting materials, seeds eaten by birds and small mammals.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    As the flower spikelets fall off they leave the barbed awl and lemma that enclose the oval flattened grain. Seedheads are light tan when dried.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are formed on a 3-10 inch nodding spike with 2-3 spikelets at each node that are blue-green and glaucous. Flowering is late summer. Flowers are surrounded by a lemma (bract) and protected by an awl.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Lower leaves are formed in basal clumps of about 1 foot. Stem leaves are alternate, sheathed nearly hiding the stems and 12 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide. Upper surface is green with a blue-green glacous undersurface.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
    Stem Description:
    Culms are mostly hidden by sheaths and are light green, terete, and slightly glaucous.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Problem for Dogs