Blue Wild Rye

Elymus glauca

Physical Characteristics

Elymus glauca is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

N. America - Ontario and Michigan to British Columbia, south to Colorado and California.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed - cooked[105, 161]. It can be ground into a flour and used to make bread. Very fiddly to use, the seed is small and difficult to extract[K].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known