Slender Wheat Grass
Cool-season perennial bunchgrass growing 2-4 feet tall. Quick to establish from seed and forms dense stands through tillering. Blue-green foliage with spike-like seed heads in early summer. Drought tolerant and adaptable to various soil conditions. Shorter-lived than warm-season prairie grasses but self-seeds readily. Useful for erosion control and as nurse crop in restoration projects.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Tan to brown
Bloom Time: Early to Mid Summer
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Part Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Phenology: Emerges early in spring, often in March-April. Rapid growth through spring. Flowers in June-July with spike-like seed heads. Seeds mature in July-August. May go dormant in summer heat/drought, resuming growth with fall moisture. Self-seeds readily.
Wildlife Value: Moderate wildlife value: seeds eaten by birds, some nesting cover, less valuable than native warm-season grasses
Habit Over Time: Fast-growing grass that quickly forms dense stands. Individual plants are shorter-lived but populations persist through self-seeding. Can be somewhat weedy but useful for quick establishment on difficult sites.
Height: Medium (2-4 feet)