Hairy Wildrye
Elymus villosus
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © baxter-birdnird (iNaturalist #126298804)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Elymus
- Species:
- Elymus villosus
- USDA Symbol:
- ELVI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal buds following fire; tolerates periodic burning typical of woodland edge habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers forested or shaded areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Cold stratification improves germination rates. Light is not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: De-awned seed is planted into propagation 38 trays, greenhouse flat liners with 38 2.1 " diameter by 2.2" deep round cells per liner, that have been filled with coarse processed bark and composted pine bark growing medium. Seed is surface sown at a rate of 3-5 seeds per cell and lightly covered with starter sized, 1/16" - 1/8" diameter, granite poultry grit to combat damping off diseases.
Establishment: Seed collection varies between protocols, with one protocol specifying collection from Stones River National Battlefield, and the other from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and National Plant Materials Center. No temperature or germination rate provided in the protocols.
Source: npn.rngr.net