Blue Wild Rye (Elymus glaucus): A Native Western Grass with Blue-Green Foliage

Blue Wild Rye, Elymus glaucus, is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass native to western North America, from Alaska to Mexico. Its blue-green foliage and adaptability make it a valuable native grass for restoration and gardens.

Versatile Native

This grass forms an open tuft 2–4 feet tall. The leaves are flat, blue-green (glaucous). The flower spike is a typical wheat-like spike, 4–8 inches long, erect to nodding. It is a short-lived perennial but reseeds readily. It grows in a wide range of habitats: meadows, woodlands, streambanks.

Restoration and Garden Use

Elymus glaucus is widely used in revegetation, erosion control, and native grassland restoration. In gardens, it adds a native, blue-textured element to meadows and naturalistic plantings. Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil.