Plant Guide with Characteristics, Classification, and other detailed information

Plant Guide

Elymus virginicus L.
Virginia wildrye
ELVI3

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC, FACW

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
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	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Bunch
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2.5
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	Medium
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5
pH, Maximum	7
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	36
Precipitation, Maximum	55
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	16
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Tolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-23

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Early 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	100000
Seed Spread Rate	Moderate
Seedling Vigor	Medium
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	None

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	High
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Medium
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Elymus virginicus L.
Virginia wildrye
ELVI3
Cultivar: Omaha

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC, FACW

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
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	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Bunch
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	2.8
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	Medium
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5
pH, Maximum	7.4
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	24
Precipitation, Maximum	55
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	12
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Tolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-28

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Early 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	73000
Seed Spread Rate	Moderate
Seedling Vigor	Medium
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	Low
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus Elymus L. -- wildrye P

Species Elymus virginicus L. -- Virginia wildrye P

Uses

Livestock: Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) is very palatable and nutritious, and is readily eaten by all classes of livestock in the spring and fall while it is green. It can be used in range restoration as a cool-season grass, and in native range seed mixes. It can also be used as a cool season pasture grass in shaded, wooded, or riparian areas. Virginia wildrye is a good forage producer. It can produce as much as 3,300 lbs of dry weight forage per dryland acre.

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

Virginia wildrye is a native, cool season, perennial bunchgrass which grows two to three feet in height. It reproduces by tillering and seed. Virginia wildrye self-fertilizes, but has been known to hybridize and introgress (outcrossing depression).

Adaptation and Distribution

Virginia wildrye prefers moist soils, high soil fertility, heavier soil textures, and it is shade tolerant. It can be found scattered on shaded banks, along fencerows and in open woodlands. Virginia wildrye can be found throughout the United States except for Nevada, California, and Oregon. In Texas, it can be found occasionally throughout most regions with the exception of the most western fifth of the state.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Establishment

Virginia wildrye is best established from seed. The Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center in Kingsville, Texas has been looking at two collections of Virignia wildrye that are adapted to South and South Central Texas. We have had consistent germination percentages above 85 percent. East Texas Plant Material Center in Nacogdoches, Texas is also evaluating this species for collections adapted to the northern and eastern portions of Texas and the Southern part of Oklahoma.

For South and South Central Texas, plantings should be done in the early fall on a clean, firm, weed-free seedbed, with adequate soil moisture. Planting depth will vary according to the soil type of the planting location. An emergence study conducted by the Kika de la Garza PMC (1998) found that seeds should be planted from ¼ - ½” deep on clay soil type, and up to 1” deep for sandier soils.

Virignia wildrye can be drilled at a minimum of ten pounds of pure live seed per acre, or broadcast at twenty pounds of pure live seed per acre. If it is a critical area planting or if dense coverage is desired, double the seeding rate. When including Virginia wildrye in a seed mixture, adjust the seeding rate accordingly. The planting should be considered successful if 1-2 plants are present per square foot planted. Stands are best established and maintained if they are not planted next to areas with a large concentration of aggressive warm-season grasses, such as K-R Bluestem or Buffelgrass.

Virginia wildrye is also a good seed producer. It can produce as much as 400 pounds of seed per dryland acre per year. Virginia wildrye contains approximately 80,000 seeds per pound.

Management

Virginia wildrye should not be grazed the first year, in order to allow the formation of a strong root system. Once established, graze on a rotational basis throughout the cool-season. Optimum forage height for use is between 4 and 10 inches.

Viriginia wildrye can be grown dryland or with irrigation. It should not be fertilized after planting until the new plants have become established. After the stand is established, fertilize as indicated by the results of recent soil tests.

Pests and Potential Problems

Virginia wildrye is susceptible to damage from white grubworms. Stands may be treated with diazinon, other grub-killing pesticides, or biological controls to limit damage. Treatment should be applied when the grubs are in the active phase, usually in the late spring or early summer. Consult with your local agricultural extension office for the treatment and timing most effective for your area.

For additional assistance regarding the production and establishment of Virginia wildrye, please contact the Kika de la Garza Plant Material Center at (361) 595-1313.

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Northern Missouri Germplasm Virginia Wildrye was released in 1999 by the Missouri Plant Material Center for use in northern Missouri.

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

John Lloyd-Reilley, Manager

Elizabeth Kadin, Research Assistant

Shelly D. Maher, Research Assistant

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

Kingsville, Texas

Edited: 01Oct2002 SDM; Edited 05Nov2003 jlk; 06jun06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture