Bottlebrush Squirreltail, Elymus elymoides

About Bottlebrush Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) 7 Nurseries Carry This Plant

Add to My Plant List

Elymus elymoides is a species of wild rye known by the common name squirreltail. This grass is native to most of North America west of the Mississippi River. It occurs in a number of ecosystems, from alpine forest to desert sage scrub to valley grassland. It is a perennial bunch grass growing to around half a meter in height. Its erect solid stems have flat or rolled leaf blades. The flower cluster is up to 15 centimeters long and somewhat stiff and erect, with spikelets one or two centimeters long not counting the awn, which may be 9 centimeters long and sticks straight out, making the flower cluster look like a bottlebrush. This grass is considered a very good forage for sheep. It is best for grazing during the winter, when it is small and green. It becomes less palatable to livestock when its awns grow long and sharp at maturity.

Plant Description

Plant Type

Grasses

Size

1.5 - 2.1 ft tall

Form

Upright

Growth Rate

Moderate

Flower Color

Yellow

Flowering Season

Spring

Wildlife Supported

Butterflies & moths hosted ( 1 confirmed

, 10 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Nevada Skipper Hesperia nevadaHesperia nevada

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoidesOchlodes sylvanoides

White-lined Sphinx Hyles lineataHyles lineata

Armyworm Moth Mythimna unipunctaMythimna unipuncta

Bronzed Cutworm Nephelodes miniansNephelodes minians

Glassy Borer Apamea devastatorApamea devastator

Darted Wainscot Leucania insuetaLeucania insueta

Landscaping Information

Sun

Full Sun

Moisture

Very Low

Nurseries

Carried by 7

Soil Description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Propagation?

For propagating by seed: No treatment. For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Natural Setting

Site Type

Dry open places

Climate

Annual Precipitation: 3.0" - 154.5", Summer Precipitation: 0.15" - 6.04", Coldest Month: 10.8" - 53.9", Hottest Month: 34.1" - 86.1", Humidity: 0.49" - 42.75", Elevation: 32" - 14460"

Alternative Names

Common Names: Squirrel-tail Grass

Print Plant Sign Print Plant Label

Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links: Jepson eFlora Taxon Page CalPhotos Wikipedia Calflora

Bottlebrush Squirreltail

Elymus elymoides

Sign in to your Calscape Account X

Bottlebrush SquirreltailElymus elymoides

Sign in to your Calscape Account X

Bottlebrush Squirreltail

Elymus elymoides