Big Squirreltail

Elymus multisetus

Big Squirreltail

Bart and Susan Eisenberg

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Elymus
Species:
Elymus multisetus

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
2-3 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul
Bloom Colors:
Green, Purple, Brown

Native Range

United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Olivia's buckmoth (Hemileuca oliviae)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
commonly found in open, rocky areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o