Scientific Name

Elymus glaucus

Full Sun

Part Sun

Part Shade

Low

Max. Height × Width

1-5'x1'

More information

calscape.org

Price & Availability

Seed package

$5

17 available

Smaller and more refined in appearance than its more extroverted relative in the genus, Giant Wildrye (Elymus condensatus), Blue Wildrye (Elymus Glaucus) is an exquisite native perennial bunchgrass deserving of far more attention than it usually gets from LA’s native plant gardeners.

For one thing, although both species are rhizomatous and can form stolons (root-sprouting stems), Blue Wildrye is compact and a far less aggressive spreader. This local yet ubiquitous species is also every bit as versatile, appearing just about everywhere in California: in meadows, open, sunny slopes and partly shaded, woodland exposures.

Like most native grasses, Blue Wildrye arises from a dense network of roots, making it an excellent choice for erosion control. Summer semi-deciduous, Blue Wildrye requires little to no supplemental irrigation once established and can be cut back to the ground while dormant if desired. and pairs well with other native grasses, annuals and geophytes.

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Bitter Gooseberry

Ribes amarum

flowers

Blue Dicks

Dipterostemon (Dichelostemma) capitatus

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Blue Elderberry

Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea

Branching Phacelia

Phacelia ramosissima

Brickell Bush

Brickellia californica

California Aster

Corethrogyne filaginifolia

California Aster

Corethrogyne filaginifolia

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California Four O’Clock

Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia

California Fuchsia

Epilobium canum ssp. canum

California Prickly Phlox

Linanthus californicus

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Canyon Dudleya

Dudleya cymosa

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Cardinal Catchfly

Silene laciniata

Caterpillar Phacelia

Phacelia cicutaria

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Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

Coast Prickly Pear

Opuntia littoralis

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Coffeeberry

Frangula californica

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Fiesta Flower

Pholistoma auritum

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Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry

Ribes speciosum

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Hollyleaf Redberry

Rhamnus ilicifolia

Longstem Buckwheat

Eriogonum elongatum

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Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus betuloides

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Poison Oak

Toxicodendron diversilobum

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Punch Bowl Godetia

Clarkia bottae

Rooreh

Claytonia perfoliata

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Round Leafed Boykinia

Boykinia rotundifolia

Sacred Datura

Datura wrightii

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Santa Barbara Honeysuckle

Lonicera subspicata var. denudata

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Saw-Toothed Goldenbush

Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides

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Scarlet Larkspur

Delphinium cardinale

Silver Puffs

Uropappus lindleyi

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Soap Plant

Chloroglaum pomeridianum

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Southern Bush Monkeyflower

Diplacus longiflorus

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Southern California Black Walnut

Juglans californica

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Spotted Humboldt’s Lily

Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Threadleaf Ragwort

Senecio flaccidus

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Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

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Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa

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Western Wallflower

Erysimum capitatum

Wild Heliotrope