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"Growing Online"tm
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Plant Guide
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Summary |
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Duration |
Perennial |
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Growth Habit |
Graminoid |
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U.S. Nativity |
Native to U.S. |
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Federal T/E Status |
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National Wetland Indicator |
FACU, FAC+ |
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Morphology/Physiology |
|
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Active Growth Period |
Spring, Summer, Fall |
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After Harvest Regrowth Rate |
Moderate |
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Bloat |
None |
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C:N Ratio |
Medium |
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Coppice Potential |
No |
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Fall Conspicuous |
No |
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Fire Resistant |
No |
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Flower Color |
Yellow |
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Flower Conspicuous |
No |
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Foliage Color |
Green |
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Foliage Porosity Summer |
Dense |
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Foliage Porosity Winter |
Porous |
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Foliage Texture |
Coarse |
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Fruit/Seed Color |
Brown |
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Fruit/Seed Conspicuous |
No |
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Growth Form |
Bunch |
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Growth Rate |
Rapid |
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Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) |
|
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Height, Mature (feet) |
3 |
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Known Allelopath |
No |
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Leaf Retention |
No |
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Lifespan |
Short |
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Low Growing Grass |
No |
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Nitrogen Fixation |
|
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Resprout Ability |
No |
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Shape and Orientation |
Erect |
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Toxicity |
None |
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|
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Growth Requirements |
|
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Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils |
Yes |
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Adapted to Fine Textured Soils |
Yes |
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Adapted to Medium Textured Soils |
Yes |
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Anaerobic Tolerance |
Low |
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CaCO3 Tolerance |
High |
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Cold Stratification Required |
No |
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Drought Tolerance |
Medium |
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Fertility Requirement |
Medium |
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Fire Tolerance |
Low |
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Frost Free Days, Minimum |
90 |
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Hedge Tolerance |
None |
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Moisture Use |
Medium |
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pH, Minimum |
5 |
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pH, Maximum |
7.9 |
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Planting Density per Acre, Minimum |
|
|
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum |
|
|
Precipitation, Minimum |
20 |
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Precipitation, Maximum |
45 |
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Root Depth, Minimum (inches) |
16 |
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Salinity Tolerance |
Medium |
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Shade Tolerance |
Tolerant |
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Temperature, Minimum (°F) |
-32 |
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Reproduction |
|
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Bloom Period |
Late Spring |
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Commercial Availability |
Routinely Available |
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Fruit/Seed Abundance |
Medium |
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Fruit/Seed Period Begin |
Spring |
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Fruit/Seed Period End |
Spring |
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Fruit/Seed Persistence |
No |
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Propagated by Bare Root |
No |
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Propagated by Bulb |
No |
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Propagated by Container |
No |
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Propagated by Corm |
No |
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Propagated by Cuttings |
No |
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Propagated by Seed |
Yes |
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Propagated by Sod |
No |
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Propagated by Sprigs |
No |
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Propagated by Tubers |
No |
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Seed per Pound |
114000 |
|
Seed Spread Rate |
Moderate |
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Seedling Vigor |
High |
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Small Grain |
No |
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Vegetative Spread Rate |
None |
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Suitability/Use |
|
|
Berry/Nut/Seed Product |
No |
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Christmas Tree Product |
No |
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Fodder Product |
Yes |
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Fuelwood Product |
None |
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Lumber Product |
No |
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Naval Store Product |
No |
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Nursery Stock Product |
No |
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Palatable Browse Animal |
Medium |
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Palatable Graze Animal |
Medium |
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Palatable Human |
No |
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Post Product |
No |
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Protein Potential |
Medium |
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Pulpwood Product |
No |
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Veneer Product |
No |
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|
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|
Summary |
|
|
Duration |
Perennial |
|
Growth Habit |
Graminoid |
|
U.S. Nativity |
Native to U.S. |
|
Federal T/E Status |
|
|
National Wetland Indicator |
FACU, FAC+ |
|
|
|
|
Morphology/Physiology |
|
|
Active Growth Period |
Spring, Summer, Fall |
|
After Harvest Regrowth Rate |
Moderate |
|
Bloat |
None |
|
C:N Ratio |
Medium |
|
Coppice Potential |
No |
|
Fall Conspicuous |
No |
|
Fire Resistant |
No |
|
Flower Color |
Yellow |
|
Flower Conspicuous |
No |
|
Foliage Color |
Green |
|
Foliage Porosity Summer |
Porous |
|
Foliage Porosity Winter |
Porous |
|
Foliage Texture |
Coarse |
|
Fruit/Seed Color |
Brown |
|
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous |
No |
|
Growth Form |
Bunch |
|
Growth Rate |
Rapid |
|
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) |
|
|
Height, Mature (feet) |
3 |
|
Known Allelopath |
No |
|
Leaf Retention |
No |
|
Lifespan |
Short |
|
Low Growing Grass |
No |
|
Nitrogen Fixation |
|
|
Resprout Ability |
No |
|
Shape and Orientation |
Erect |
|
Toxicity |
None |
|
|
|
|
Growth Requirements |
|
|
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Anaerobic Tolerance |
None |
|
CaCO3 Tolerance |
High |
|
Cold Stratification Required |
No |
|
Drought Tolerance |
Medium |
|
Fertility Requirement |
Medium |
|
Fire Tolerance |
Low |
|
Frost Free Days, Minimum |
90 |
|
Hedge Tolerance |
None |
|
Moisture Use |
Medium |
|
pH, Minimum |
5 |
|
pH, Maximum |
7.9 |
|
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum |
|
|
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum |
|
|
Precipitation, Minimum |
20 |
|
Precipitation, Maximum |
45 |
|
Root Depth, Minimum (inches) |
16 |
|
Salinity Tolerance |
Medium |
|
Shade Tolerance |
Tolerant |
|
Temperature, Minimum (°F) |
-43 |
|
|
|
|
Reproduction |
|
|
Bloom Period |
Late Spring |
|
Commercial Availability |
Routinely Available |
|
Fruit/Seed Abundance |
Medium |
|
Fruit/Seed Period Begin |
Spring |
|
Fruit/Seed Period End |
Summer |
|
Fruit/Seed Persistence |
No |
|
Propagated by Bare Root |
No |
|
Propagated by Bulb |
No |
|
Propagated by Container |
No |
|
Propagated by Corm |
No |
|
Propagated by Cuttings |
No |
|
Propagated by Seed |
Yes |
|
Propagated by Sod |
No |
|
Propagated by Sprigs |
No |
|
Propagated by Tubers |
No |
|
Seed per Pound |
114000 |
|
Seed Spread Rate |
Rapid |
|
Seedling Vigor |
High |
|
Small Grain |
No |
|
Vegetative Spread Rate |
None |
|
|
|
|
Suitability/Use |
|
|
Berry/Nut/Seed Product |
No |
|
Christmas Tree Product |
No |
|
Fodder Product |
Yes |
|
Fuelwood Product |
None |
|
Lumber Product |
No |
|
Naval Store Product |
No |
|
Nursery Stock Product |
No |
|
Palatable Browse Animal |
Medium |
|
Palatable Graze Animal |
Medium |
|
Palatable Human |
No |
|
Post Product |
No |
|
Protein Potential |
Medium |
|
Pulpwood Product |
No |
|
Veneer Product |
No |
|
Kingdom Plantae -- Plants |
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Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants |
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Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants |
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Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants |
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Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons |
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Subclass Commelinidae |
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Order Cyperales |
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Family Poaceae -- Grass family |
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Species Elymus canadensis L. -- Canada wildrye P |
Uses
Restoration: Canada wildrye is often an early successional component of prairie mixtures.
Livestock: Canada wildrye provides good forage quality during the early part of the grazing season but is generally considered an inferior forage after it matures. It is fairly palatable to most livestock, and is rated good in energy value but poor in protein value.
Wildlife: Canada wildrye has fair to good palatability as food for wildlife. It also provides nesting, brood, winter, and escape cover.
Erosion Control: Exceptional seedling vigor and rapid establishment make Canada wildrye an excellent species for use in erosion control seedings. Stands of Canada wildrye typically establish during the 1st year, reach peak production the 2nd or 3rd year, and then rapidly thin out. This species is sometimes used in seeding mixtures where quick development and stabilization is needed.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Description
Canada wildrye is a native perennial bunchgrass that grows to 4 feet with erect or arching culms and flat, wide (up to 0.8 inches), waxy green, pointed leaves that grow from the base of the stem to the spike. Auricles are claw-like and clasping, arising from a broad, yellowish or light green collar. The thick and bristly spikelets can reach 10 inches in length, and are often 2 or 3 to a node. There are approximately 115,000 seeds per pound.
Adaptation and Distribution
Canada wildrye is a short-lived, cool-season grass found on sandy shores and dunes; wooded areas, especially along trails, rivers and streams; and other disturbed sites throughout much of the North America. Seedlings are vigorous and establish quickly, but are not highly competitive with other grasses. Growth begins later in the spring and lasts longer into the summer than growth of smooth brome. It is moderately drought tolerant and winter hardy. It has good tolerance to salinity and tolerates shade very well.
Canada wildrye is distributed throughout the northeast, north, and western United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.
Establishment
Canada wildrye is typically seeded in a mix with warm season and/or other cool season grasses. Native forbs can also be included to enhance the restoration benefits. Planting may be completed in the spring or late fall, or early fall if moisture conditions are satisfactory. The seedbed should be firm and weed problems eliminated prior to planting. Seeding rates will vary between 0.5 and 4.0 lbs./acre depending on the mix and site conditions. If planted alone, solid seed at 10 lbs./acre (for conservation use), or 5 lbs. acre in rows (for seed production).
Management
For good quality, nutritious hay Canada wildrye should be cut just as the heads are emerging from the boot. When used for pasture, grazing should be delayed until there is at least 5 inches of growth. Canada wildrye generally decreases in response to grazing.
Because its crown has coarse stems and leaves, Canada wildrye is somewhat resistant to fire mortality. However, susceptibility increases when burns are conducted after the initiation of spring growth.
Pests and Potential Problems
Canada wildrye is susceptible to leaf and stem rust, and to ergot.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)
‘Mandan’ (North Dakota) was released by ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory for use in the northern Great Plains states.
Prepared By & Species Coordinator:
Tony Bush
USDA NRCS Rose Lake Plant Materials Center, East Lansing, Michigan
Edited: 01Feb2002 JLK; 05jun06 jsp
https://plants.usda.govhttps://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov
Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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