Riverbank Wild Rye
Elymus riparius
A tall, robust native grass that grows in dense clumps along stream banks and floodplains. Bears beautiful, arching, nodding seed spikes that resemble wheat, providing excellent bank stabilization and bird food. Prefers moist, sunny to partly shaded sites.
- Family
- Poaceae
- Type
- grass
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 4.5–4.5 ft
- Spacing
- 1.5–2.5 ft apart
- Light
- sun
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- July
- Bloom colors
- yellow
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, larval host
- Landscape uses
- naturalizing, erosion control, rain garden
- Native states
- CT, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Related native plants
More Elymus species
- Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix)
- Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus)
- Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis)
- Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus)
- Hairy Wild Rye (Elymus villosus)
- Slender Wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus)