Image of Elymus villosus
Source: Jim Pisarowicz
image of Grass
Elymus villosus
Downy Wild Rye
Élyme velu

Synonyms

hairy wildrye
villous wildrye
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom Colour: Green Bloom Period: Jun - Aug
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet
Light Condition:
Full shade Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
woodland garden Suitable for woodland gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Foot Traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Elymus villosus
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Elymus villosus

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Elymus villosus

No bee data available for this plant.

Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Miscanthus (Silvergrass)
  • Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass)
  • Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain Grass)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Can be sown in late spring in warm soil.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: August
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
  • Harvesting:
    • Use hand to detach from main stem
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: A dozen (12) seeds (eyeball)
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • Harvesting video: Watch here

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity if ingested but the seeds can become foreign bodies in the eyes, toes, ears etc of pets.