Great Plains 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'
- 'Homestead'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Homestead'
Produces larger amounts of forage and has higher digestibility
- 'Homestead'
- 'Homestead'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
