Virginia Wildrye
Elymus virginicus
Also known as: Southeastern Wildrye
- Native to:
- Canada, Prince Edward I., United States, Virgin Islands
iNaturalist: © zihaowang (iNaturalist #53229089)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Elymus
- Species:
- Elymus virginicus
- USDA Symbol:
- ELVI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in floodplains and wet meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold moist stratification for 30-60 days to break dormancy.
Pre-treatment: Mix equal amount of seeds with perlite or vermiculite in a Ziploc-style bag or small container. Add a small amount of water and store in a cold environment (33-42 degrees F) for one month. Alternatively, seeds can be surface sown at a rate of 3-5 seeds per cell and lightly covered with starter sized granite poultry grit to combat damping off diseases. Some protocols suggest no treatment is needed, but seeds may germinate more uniformly after a 2-week cold stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are collected from locally native plants. Germination occurs at moderate temperatures. There are regional variations in seed collection and some conflicting information on pre-treatment methods.
Source: npn.rngr.net
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Pizzo Native Plant Nursery (wholesale nursery)
- Native Plants Nursery (nursery)
- Vermont Wildflower Farm (nursery and seeds)
- Sheffield's Seed (seeds)
- Native American Seed (nursery and seeds)
- Prairie Moon Nursery (nursery and seeds)