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BOTTLEBRUSH GRASS
Elymus hystrix L.
A striking grass with long-bristled flower spikelets widely spaced along flowering stalks, giving the appearance of a bottlebrush. Nice as an ornamental clump or for naturalizing in shady to semi-shady areas.
Description: Bottlebrush squirreltail is described as a cool season short-lived native perennial bunchgrass. The climax status on bottlebrush squirreltail is enigmatic. It is most often characterized as an early seral species, however it may exist as a dominant grass in climax communities. Tusas germplasm obtains a height of approximately 15-20 inches (38-50 cm). Tusas germplasm greens up in mid to late February when 'Paloma' ricegrass (Achmatherum hymenoides) is still dormant. It flowers in April and is ready for harvest by late June.
Bottlebrush squirreltail is one of the most fire-resistant bunchgrasses. Coarse leaves and low density of dead plant material within the bunch make it less susceptible to fire damage. Its fire tolerance allows it to survive sequential bums and its self-pollinating mode of reproduction allows it to produce seed despite sparse initial populations. These qualities along with an effective seed dispersal mechanism make it well suited for seeding following wildfire or prescribed burns.
