Ontario Native
Canada Wild Rye
Elymus canadensis
Flower colour
Bristly, heavy greenish-gold flower spikes. As the season turns to autumn, the entire plant and its nodding heads fade to a handsome, bronzy, sandy tan
Bloom time
Mid to late summer
Height
24-60"
Light
Full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a half-day of shade much better than many other prairie grasses
Moisture
Highly versatile, growing in dry, medium, or moist soils. It tolerates both extreme drought and occasional high water levels near shorelines
Native to Ontario
Yes
Ecological benefit
The foliage serves as a larval host for several regional butterfly and moth species, including the Northern Pearly Eyebutterfly. It possesses a highly fibrous root system that makes it a superstar for erosion control. The large, nutrient-rich seed spikes are a primary food source for native songbirds, small mammals, and declining prairie species like the Bobolink. Because it is a cool-season grass, it greens up very early in the spring long before other native grasses wake up. This provides vital early cover for ground-nesting birds.