General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 4a
Plant Height: 36 to 48 inches
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Uses: Erosion control
Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Provide light
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Wind
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Canada Wild Rye
  • Canadian Wild Rye
  • Prairie Wildrye
  • Nodding Wildrye
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Elymus canadensis
  • Synonym: Elymus canadensis var. brachystachys
  • Synonym: Elymus canadensis var. robustus

Photo Gallery
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Date: 2016-07-20
planted in natural area near lake
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Date: 2016-07-20
plants in natural area near lake

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Prairie in Pawnee County, Nebraska
Date: 2014-08-27
Location: Prairie in Pawnee County, Nebraska
Date: 2014-08-27
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 10, 2018 3:49 PM concerning plant:
    I've only seen this species once. The Glen Ellyn Park District created some nice native, natural landscape spots near Lake Ellyn and this naïve species was included. Canadian Wildrye has a large native range over most of Canada and the United States, except for the very southeastern states. It is a cool season grass that makes a quick cover over ground. It gets to around 4 feet high and bears the terminal spike-like seedheads of oat-like seeds with long bristly awns that cause the stems to bend and droop. It might be sold at a few native plant nurseries. There are some seed companies that sell this.

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