Characteristics

• Blue wildrye is a tufted bunchgrass that has a bluish tint and grows to an erect height of up to 6 feet. Yellow blooms occur in June and July. The blue-green foliage consists of medium length basal leaves, or leaves that form at the base of the stem, and turn brown in the hotter summer months.
  
  

Habitat

• Blue wildrye does not require much water and does well in partial shade. This type of bunchgrass prefers cooler temperatures and moist to dry, well-drained soil and is drought-resistant. Blue wildrye provides food to wildlife such as elk and is native to the United States.
  
  

Range

• Blue wildrye is most commonly found in a range from western North America around Alaska through Ontario and southward to New Mexico and northern Arizona. This prairie grass occurs cool, moist or dry hillsides and in open woody regions such as the Coast-Cascade Mountain crest.
  
  

Propagation

• Blue wildrye is a perennial that propagates primarily through seed distribution. In early July, seeds start ripening in lower region. In cooler temperatures, they ripen in early August. The seeds drop when mature. Seed germination occurs rapidly, within six to 10 days with no pretreatment required. Seeds are harvestable and remain viable for two to five years when stored in cool temperatures.