Elymus canadensis
A tall, cool-season North American native bunchgrass from the central plains with nodding spike inflorescences and long awns, commonly used for erosion control and habitat restoration.
Common Names
Canada Wild Rye, Nodding Wild Rye, Great Plains Wild Rye, Canadian Wildrye, Prairie Wild Rye
Summary
Canada wild rye is a native cool-season perennial bunchgrass of North America that forms loose to dense tufts 2 to 5 feet tall, with arching, nodding seed heads and long bristly awns, leaves are rough, bluish-green and up to about 1/2 inch wide, foliage turns tan in fall and winter, the plant occurs in prairies, dunes, riverbanks, savannas, woodlands, and disturbed areas, providing year-round texture, it tolerates full sun to partial shade and a wide range of soils from dry to moist, with drought tolerance once established, establishment is easy from seed or division, and the species self-seeds readily, making it suitable for prairie restorations, erosion control, and soil stabilization, wildlife value is provided by seeds for birds and small mammals.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-5 feet
Spread
24-36 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-8
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
5.0-8.0, Tolerates acidic to alkaline soils
Bloom Color
Insignificant
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Tan
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast-growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds and butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 83 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Poales
- Family
- Poaceae
- Genus
- Elymus
Synonyms
Clinelymus canadensis Elymus canadensis f. calvescens Elymus canadensis f. crescendus Elymus canadensis f. glaucifolius Elymus canadensis f. wiegandii Elymus canadensis var. albanensis Elymus canadensis var. brachystachys Elymus canadensis var. glaucifolius Elymus canadensis var. hirsutus Elymus canadensis var. pendulus Elymus canadensis var. philadelphicus Elymus canadensis var. robustus Elymus canadensis var. villosus Elymus canadensis var. wiegandii Elymus crescendus Elymus glaucifolius Elymus glaucifolius var. robustus Elymus philadelphicus Elymus philadelphicus var. brachystachys Elymus philadelphicus var. hirsutus Elymus philadelphicus var. pendulus Elymus robustus Elymus robustus var. vestitus Elymus wiegandii Elymus wiegandii f. calvescens Hordeum canadense Hordeum patulum Sitanion brodei Terrellia canadensis Elymus canadensis subsp. canadensis Elymus canadensis var. canadensis Elymus wiegandii f. wiegandii Terrellia canadensis var. glaucifolia Elymus brachystachys Elymus canadensis subsp. wiegandii Elymus glaucifolius var. crescendus Elymus philadelphicus var. robustus Roegneria canadensis Terrellia canadensis var. glaucifolia Elymus canadensis f. canadensis