NAME:  Canadian Rye

OTHER COMMON NAMES:  Canada Rye / Canada Wild Rye / Nodding Rye

SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Elymus Canadensis

COLOR:  Yellow, Green - Tan, Purple

PLANT SEEDS:  Spring or Fall

BLOOM TIME:  June - Aug

HARDINESS ZONE:  2 - 9

PLANT HEIGHT:  2 - 4'

PLANT SPACING:  2 - 3'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:  Sun

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES:  Average

QUANTITY:  500 Seeds

OTHER:  Canadian Rye is a perennial bunch grass native to the prairies of North America. Rye is valuable plant with a variety of uses.

Rye is grown as a grazing crop for livestock such as cattle, or as a ground cover for prairies. It is used for erosion control, & it provides food & habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. It is a host plant for Zabulon Skipper Butterfly.

Canadian Rye is also grown as an ornamental. The plants look great year round. The leaves are bluish-green, & the showy spiky flower & seed heads measure up to 10" long. The nodding seed heads arch & bend, looking lovely blowing in the breeze. The seed heads stay on the plant into the winter, & the seeds are a favorite of birds & other small critters. They are also quite popular in dried floral arrangements.

The plants are quite tolerant, & will grow in most soils. They are able to grow in soil that is shallow, sandy, or a heavy clay, & tolerate drought well. This rye has no problem growing in coastal conditions. They can also be grown in containers.