Blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus) is a perennial bunchgrass that grows upright to about 4 feet. It grows as narrow tufts of several erect stems and spreads outward by rhizomes. It is a common and widespread species native to North America from Alaska to New York to northern Mexico.
Blue wildrye is a crucial soil stabilizer, habitat creator, and food source for local wildlife. The seeds are a food source for native mammals and birds.
This is a popular accent grass for the garden, providing green to blue green color and texture contrast. It can hybridize with other species of Elymus to produce highly variable forms.