Elymus elymoides

Common Names

Squirreltail, Bottlebrush Squirreltail, Desert Squirreltail, Tall Squirreltail

Summary

Bottlebrush squirreltail is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass native to western North America. It forms caespitose tufts 8–25 inches tall with erect culms and flat to involute leaves; the inflorescence is a spike up to 15 cm long with spikelets 1–2 cm and long awns projecting up to 9 cm, giving a bottlebrush-like appearance. Its broad distribution spans from Mexico to British Columbia and from the Great Basin to the Dakotas, occurring on dry, gravelly to saline soils in habitats ranging from sagebrush deserts to alpine meadows.

For cultivation and management, establishment is easy with shallow seeding ¼–½ inch deep and about 7 pounds of PLS per acre, best planted in late dormant fall or early spring. It is used for erosion control, reclamation, restoration, and wildlife habitat and provides winter forage for sheep; palatability is higher in spring and declines as awns mature. Drought-tolerant once established, wind-dissemination of seed is possible and stands should be protected from heavy grazing during flowering; seed is available commercially with quality standards.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1.5 - 2 feet

Spread

18-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Dry, well-draining soils, typically sandy-loam to loam, often alkaline or saline.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Alkaline soils (high pH)

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies