Pastoral and timeless, Elymus virginicus harkens to the grasslands of yesteryear: grain-like inflorescences that resemble wheat appear in late summer, swaying hypnotically in late season breezes. Appropriately dubbed Virginia wild rye, this cool season bunch grass emerges bright green before erecting its 4’ tall seedheads in August, which persist as a textural component in the landscape well into autumn and early winter after the blades have completed their spectacle of maroons, coppers, crimsons and ochres. Highly adaptable to a variety of site conditions, Elymus virginicus is tolerant of roadsides and disturbed sites, low-lying woodland edges, streambanks and riverbeds, meadows or grassland prairie sites that occasionally experience drier soils, and can even be utilized as a method of erosion control along slopes or hillsides. As with its soil preferences, its sun preferences are also quite varied – Elymus virginicus is capable of thriving in both full sun and full shade, making it an excellent pioneer species for naturalizing wooded sites.

• Category: Grasses
• Hardiness Zone: 3
• Height: 36 Inches
• Spread: 16 Inches