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Slender Wheat Grass

Elymus trachycaulus

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Category
Grass / Sedge / Rush
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Dry
Bloom time
Jul–Aug

About Slender Wheat Grass

Slender Wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) is a versatile and resilient native grass that adds graceful texture to any landscape. Characterized by its fine, upright stems and delicate seed heads, this cool-season bunchgrass typically reaches heights of 2 to 4 feet (sometimes up to 5 feet in ideal conditions). Native across much of North America, from northern Canada to Mexico, it thrives in a variety of habitats, including prairies, meadows, and open woodlands. It is particularly valued for reclamation and restoration projects due to its ability to establish quickly and tolerate diverse soil conditions, from medium-wet to dry. Blooming in early to mid-summer, this grass offers important cover and nesting material for birds and small mammals. Its adaptability to full sun or partial shade ensures vigorous growth, while its root system helps prevent erosion. This low-maintenance native grass is a sustainable, wildlife-friendly addition that supports the ecosystem naturally.

Native range

Native to 39 states:

AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Elymus trachycaulus

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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