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Virginia Wild Rye 400 Seeds Elymus Virginicus For Planting
Virginia Wild Rye is a graceful, short-lived perennial similar to Canada Wild Rye, but with a smaller, less showy seed head. It actively grows during the spring and fall when soil temperatures are cool. Common companions to this cool season grass are warm season grasses like Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Switch Grass. As shown in the above photo, Virginia Wild Rye turns attractive shades of tan and crimson in the fall.
As a fast-growing grass, Virginia Wild Rye is a good choice for erosion control and stream bank stabilization. It prefers rich, moist areas in clearings or along the forest edge, but can also grow in drier, sunny conditions as well. Its tolerance to shade makes it a good pioneer species for woodland restorations, especially when planted along with Bottlebrush Grass. This species readily reseeds. For these reasons it can also be used as a native Cover Crop. Use 1-5 lbs per acre when seeding with your native seed mix.
Various insects feed on Virginia Wild Rye and other species in the Elymus genus, including leafhoppers, aphids, and leaf beetles. Caterpillars of various leaf miner moths mine the leaves of these grasses, and caterpillars of the False Wainscot Moth also eat the leaves. Livestock may forage on Virginia Wild Rye, however as the plant matures, seedheads of Virginia Wild Rye may be sharp and can cause injury to grazing animals so they generally leave it alone later in the season. In a garden setting or a prairie, the sharp awns could pose a risk to pets.
As a fast-growing grass, Virginia Wild Rye is a good choice for erosion control and stream bank stabilization. It prefers rich, moist areas in clearings or along the forest edge, but can also grow in drier, sunny conditions as well. Its tolerance to shade makes it a good pioneer species for woodland restorations, especially when planted along with Bottlebrush Grass. This species readily reseeds. For these reasons it can also be used as a native Cover Crop. Use 1-5 lbs per acre when seeding with your native seed mix.
Various insects feed on Virginia Wild Rye and other species in the Elymus genus, including leafhoppers, aphids, and leaf beetles. Caterpillars of various leaf miner moths mine the leaves of these grasses, and caterpillars of the False Wainscot Moth also eat the leaves. Livestock may forage on Virginia Wild Rye, however as the plant matures, seedheads of Virginia Wild Rye may be sharp and can cause injury to grazing animals so they generally leave it alone later in the season. In a garden setting or a prairie, the sharp awns could pose a risk to pets.
