Eastern Wild-rye Elymus virginicus

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

Elymus glabriflorus

Phonetic Spelling

EL-ih-mus vir-JIN-ih-kus

Description

Eastern Wild-rye is a native perennial cool-season ornamental grass found in bottomland forests, upland prairies, glades, marshes, stream banks, pastures, fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas in Canada and the U.S.A. It is considered a NC Special Concern species. The plant grows in clumps up to 1 foot tall. The flower spikes rise up to 4 feet tall with bristly wheat-like inflorescences that sway in the breeze. They are followed by seed heads that mature to tan and continue to add interest to the plant into fall. It will freely self-seed.

Eastern Wildrye is easy to grow in moist, fertile, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. and tolerates a wide range of soil types. The root system makes it very good for erosion control. Use this plant in naturalized areas, slopes or stream banks.

This plant provides shelter to small mammals and insects and is deer resistant.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

var. glabriflorus
Var. halophilus
var. submuticus
narrower leaves

var. glabriflorus, Var. halophilus, var. submuticus

Tags:

#NC native #swamps #pollinator plant #native ornamental grass #larval host plant #food source herbage #Coastal FAC #Piedmont Mountains FACW #wet soils tolerant #bird friendly #food source hard mast fruit #mammals #Audubon

Flowers and leaf Matt Lavin CC-BY-SA 2.0