Elymus hystrix: Country Or Region Of Origin
North, Central & Eastern U.S.A
Plant Profile: Elymus hystrix
Taxonomy: Elymus hystrixNames
Bottle Brush Grass, Bottlebrush Grass
Phonetic Spelling:EL-ih-mus HIS-triks
Genus:Elymus
Species:hystrix
Family:Poaceae
This ornamental grass features captivating seed heads. It may enter a dormant state during the peak summer heat and thrives in shaded woodland environments. Notably, it self-sows without being invasive.
Habitat: Var. bigelovianus is found in high-elevation forests, while var. hystrix prefers moist and dry forests, particularly in areas with richer soils.
Elymus hystrix Feature Summary
Tags
#wildlife plant
#moths
#food source
#NC native
#food source summer
#food source herbage
#piedmont mountains UPL
#coastal UPL
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#flies
#butterfly friendly
#beetles
#audubon
Similar Plants
Elymus hystrix Feature Summary
Attributes
North, Central & Eastern U.S.A
Seeds attract birds.
Drought tolerant.
Perennial
Seed
Division
Fruit
Fruit displays from July to September.
Caryopsis
Summer
Flowers
Flowers bloom from May to July.
Brown/Copper
Green
Good Cut
Showy
Summer
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Leaves
Green
Gray/Silver
Blue
Simple
Alternate
> 6 inches
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Native Garden
Drought
Pollution
Dry Soil
Erosion
Black Walnut
Heavy Shade
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Riparian
Butterflies
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Elymus hystrix Image Gallery
Elymus hystrix Attributes
Elymus hystrix: Wildlife Value
Seeds attract birds.
Elymus hystrix: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Drought tolerant.
Elymus hystrix: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Elymus hystrix: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Elymus hystrix Fruit
Elymus hystrix: Fruit Description
Fruit displays from July to September.
Elymus hystrix: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Elymus hystrix: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Elymus hystrix Flowers
Elymus hystrix: Flower Description
Flowers bloom from May to July.
Elymus hystrix: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Elymus hystrix: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Elymus hystrix: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Elymus hystrix: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Elymus hystrix Whole Plant Traits
Elymus hystrix: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Elymus hystrix: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Elymus hystrix Cultural Conditions
Elymus hystrix: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Elymus hystrix: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Elymus hystrix: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Elymus hystrix: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Elymus hystrix: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Elymus hystrix Leaves
Elymus hystrix: Leaf Color
Blue
Gray/Silver
Green
Elymus hystrix: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Elymus hystrix: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Elymus hystrix: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Elymus hystrix: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Elymus hystrix Stem
Elymus hystrix: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Elymus hystrix Landscape
Elymus hystrix: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Elymus hystrix: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Elymus hystrix: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Elymus hystrix: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
