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| ## basin wildrye {#basin-wildrye .Title-Header}                       |
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| *Leymus cinereus* (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Love                           |
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| Plant Symbol = LECI4                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office & the National Plant Data
Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.6951388888888888in" height="4.26875in"}

## Alternate Names

# giant wildrye*, Elymus cinereus*

## Uses

*Grazing/rangeland/hayland*: Basin wildrye is generally not recommended
for spring or summer forage production, because it has an elevated
growing point and is easily damaged by overgrazing.

Basin wildrye is palatable to all classes of livestock and wildlife. It
is a preferred feed for horses in spring and is considered a desirable
feed for cattle, sheep, elk, deer, and antelope in the spring. It is
considered a desirable feed for cattle and horses in early summer, late
fall, and winter. It reaches its peak production in protein per acre
from mid-June through August. Protein levels can be as high as 20
percent and decrease to about 7 to 8 percent protein as it matures and
cures out.

This species is a high forage producer and can be used as winter forage
when found in larger stands. It is generally not recommended for haying,
because it is difficult to harvest above its natural growing point.
Leaving 10 to 12 inches of stubble height will help reduce grazing
damage. Once harvested it produces little re-growth.

Basin wildrye is ideal for providing wind protection in winter calving
pastures. It holds its nutrient value well at maturity (7-8% protein)
and can withstand heavy grazing and trampling in its dormant state. Its
tall stature and stiff stems makes this forage accessible in areas of
deep snow.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Basin wildrye is well adapted to
stabilizing disturbed soils. It does not compete well with aggressive
introduced grasses during the establishment period, but it is very
compatible with slower developing natives such as Snake River wheatgrass
(*Elymus wawawaiensis*), bluebunch wheatgrass (*Pseudoroegneria
spicata*), thickspike wheatgrass (*Elymus lanceolatus* ssp.
*lanceolatus*), streambank wheatgrass (*Elymus lanceolatus* ssp.
*psammophilus*), western wheatgrass (*Pascopyrum smithii*), and
needlegrass species (*Stipa* spp., *Nasella* spp., & *Ptilagrostis*
spp.). Basin wildrye's drought tolerance, combined with fibrous root
system and fair seedling vigor, make it desirable for reclamation in
areas receiving 8 to 20 inches annual precipitation. It is commonly used
as a grass barrier for wind erosion or blowing snow control. It has also
been planted on hilly cropland as a vegetative terrace for water erosion
control.

*Wildlife*: Because basin wildrye is a tall upright bunchgrass, it is
considered excellent cover habitat for small animals and birds,
excellent nesting cover for upland birds, and excellent standing winter
feed and cover for big game animals.

## Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious
status, and wetland indicator values.

## Description

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). Basin wildrye is a large, coarse,
robust, perennial bunchgrass. It is a long-lived cool season native with
an extensive deep coarse fibrous root system.

Basin wildrye has long leaf blades (15 to 25 inches) and flat wide (up
to 3/4 inch) leaves with long pointed auricles. The reproductive stems
are dense, stout, and strongly erect. Seed heads are 6 to 10 inches
long. Basin wildrye clumps may reach 3 feet in diameter and 3 to 6 feet
tall (10 feet under excellent soil and climate conditions). Growing
points are 10 to 12 inches above the crown.

Basin wildrye has fair seedling vigor. It is one of the first grasses to
initiate spring growth and produces an abundance of basal leaf growth
until the development of seed heads in mid-June to mid-July. Following
the development of seed heads, basin wildrye produces very little
additional basal leaf growth and rapidly becomes coarse and mostly
stems. Re-growth does not occur following seed production.

*Distribution*: It is native to the Great Plains and Intermountain
regions of the western United States. For current distribution, please
consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: Basin wildrye is very winter hardy and has a rather broad
climatic adaptation. It can be found at elevations from 2000 up to 9000
feet. It grows best in areas with average annual precipitation of 8
inches to above 20 inches. 'Trailhead' has been seeded in areas with as
low as 5 inches of rainfall and reproduced to populate areas around
original plots. In lower rainfall areas, it grows in run-in areas, along
gullies or watercourses, or near sites with high seasonal water tables.
It does not tolerate areas with extended periods of inundation. It will
tolerate short-term winter flooding. It is susceptible to leaf and stem
rust in wetter climatic areas.

Basin wildrye has a broad soil texture adaptation, but it is not adapted
to shallow soils. It is most common on deep soils with high water
holding capacities.

It is tolerant of low to moderate levels (\< 10 mmhos/cm3) of saline and
sodic soil conditions and some low pH soils. Established stands of basin
wildrye can tolerate long periods of drought, and it prefers cycles of
wet winters and dry summers. It tolerates partial shading and wildfire
if soil moisture is not too dry.

It does well as a pioneer plant and establishes seedlings in disturbed
areas, such as recent road fills and areas disturbed by wildlife (ex.
rodent diggings).

Species often associated with basin wildrye include the big sagebrush
complex (*Artemisia tridentata*), juniper species (*Juniper* spp.),
needlegrass species (*Stipa* spp.), bluebunch wheatgrass, Snake River
wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, streambank wheatgrass, Indian
ricegrass (*Achnatherum hymenoides*), and Idaho fescue (*Festuca
idahoensis*).

*Planting*: This species should be seeded with a disc or deep furrow
drill at a depth of 1/4 to 3/4 inch on medium to fine textured soils and
1 inch or less on coarse textured soils. Single species seeding rate
recommended for basin wildrye is 8 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre
or 24 PLS per square foot or 24 pls seeds per linear row foot at 12 inch
row spacing. If used as a component of a mix, adjust to percent of mix
desired. For rangeland mixtures, approximately 10 to 20 percent of mix
or 1 to 2 pounds PLS should be considered.

For mined lands and other harsh critical areas, the seeding rate should
be doubled. When seeding is for a vegetative windbreak, vegetative
terrace, or wildlife cover, it is recommended that 3.0 to 3.5 pounds PLS
be seeded in 36 to 48 inch rows.

The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in very early spring
on heavy to medium textured soils and in late fall on medium to light
textured soils. Summer and late summer (July to mid September) seedings
are not recommended. Seedling vigor is fair, and stands may take 2 to 5
years to fully establish.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment.
Bromoxynil may be applied at the 3-4-leaf stage of grass for early
suppression of young broadleaf weeds. Application of 2,4-D should not be
made until plants have reached the 4-6-leaf stage. Mow when weeds are
beginning to bloom to reduce seed development. Grasshoppers and other
insects may also damage new stands. Use of pesticides may be required.
All herbicides and pesticides should be applied according to the label.

## Management

Basin wildrye establishes slowly and new seedings should not be grazed
or hayed until at least late summer or fall of the second growing
season. Basin wildrye makes its initial growth in early spring and
matures seed by late summer. It reproduces primarily by seed and
tillers.

Basin wildrye is palatable to all classes of livestock and wildlife. New
stands should not be grazed until plants are at least 10 inches tall.
Overgrazing, especially in spring, easily damages basin wildrye, and
stubble of at least 10 inches should remain following grazing. Basin
wildrye is ideal for providing wind protection in winter calving
pastures. It holds approximately twice the nutrient value (7-8% protein)
of wheatgrasses (3-4% protein) at maturity and can withstand heavy
grazing and trampling in its dormant state.

Established stands can be grazed in late spring or fall (leave about 10
inches of stubble to protect plant health). Following grazing, little
re-growth can be expected, even when the stand is irrigated. Basin
wildrye is a low maintenance plant requiring little additional treatment
or care. However, it may benefit from low levels of fertilization. Apply
30 pounds per acre on dryland plantings and 60 to 80 pounds per acre on
irrigated plantings for optimum production.

*Environmental Concerns*: Basin wildrye is long-lived and spreads
primarily via seed distribution. It is not considered \"weedy\" or an
invasive species, but can spread into adjoining vegetative communities
under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. Most seedings do not
spread from original plantings. If they do spread, the rate is not
alarming. Basin wildrye accessions with the same chromosome number (28
or 56) will cross with each other but are not noted for crossing with
other native species or basin wildryes of a different chromosome number.

## Seed Production

Seed production of basin wildrye has been very successful under
cultivated conditions. Row spacing of 36 inches (3.5 pounds PLS per
acre) to 48 inches (3.0 pounds PLS per acre) is recommended. Cultivation
will be needed for weed control and to maintain row culture.

Seed fields are productive for five to seven years. Average production
of 150 to 200 pounds per acre can be expected under dryland conditions
in 14 inch plus rainfall areas. Average production of 300 to 400 pounds
per acre can be expected under irrigated conditions. Direct combining
best completes harvesting. The seed heads have moderate rates of shatter
and require close scrutiny of maturing stands. Seed is generally
harvested in mid-August to September. Seed must be dried immediately
after combining (12 percent bins/15 percent sacks moisture content).

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available through the appropriate
state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow
certified seed.

'Magnar' (*Leymus cinereus*) was originally collected by the Pullman,
Washington, Plant Materials Center (PMC). It was developed by the
Aberdeen, Idaho, PMC and released in 1979. It is a selection of vigorous
plant types over several generations. It is adapted to the Northwest and
Intermountain Regions of the Western United States where precipitation
averages 8 inches or above. It has survived in plantings with 7 inches
annual rainfall. It prefers deep clayey to loamy to sandy soils and can
be found in weakly saline conditions. It is noted for blue foliage, fair
seedling vigor and establishment, high forage production, good winter
cover, fair winter forage, and ability to survive and thrive under very
dry conditions. 'Magnar' is a 56-chromosome cultivar. Certified seed is
available, and breeder seed is maintained by the Aberdeen PMC.

\'Trailhead\' (*Leymus cinereus*) was selected by the Bridger, Montana,
PMC and released in 1991. The original collection site was near Roundup,
Montana, in a sub-irrigated range site. It is adapted to the Northern
Great Plains and Intermountain Regions of the Western United States
where precipitation averages 8 inches or above. It has survived in
plantings with 5 inches annual rainfall. It was selected for its stand
longevity and drought tolerance as compared to other basin wildrye
accessions. It prefers deep clayey to loamy to sandy soils and tolerates
weakly saline conditions. It is noted for green foliage, fair seedling
vigor and establishment, high forage production, good winter cover, fair
winter forage, and ability to survive and thrive under very dry
conditions. 'Trailhead' is a 28-chromosome cultivar. Certified seed is
available, and the Bridger PMC maintains breeder seed.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

## References

Alderson, J. & W.C. Sharp 1994. *Grass varieties in the United States*.
Agriculture Handbook No. 170. USDA, SCS, Washington, D.C.

Carlson, J.R. & M.E. Barkworth 1997. *Elymus wawawaiensis: a species
hitherto confused with Pseudoroegneria spicata (Triticeae, Poaceae)*.
Phytologia 83:312-330.

Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, & P. K.
Holmgren 1977. *Intermountain flora*. Vol. 6. The New York Botanical
Garden. Columbia University Press, New York, New York.

Hitchcock, A. S. 1950. *Manual of the grasses of the United States*.
USDA, Washington, DC.

Powell, A.M. 1994. *Grasses of the Trans-Pecos and adjacent areas*.
University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.

USDA, Forest Service 1996. *Fire effects information system*. Version:
000417. \<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/\>. Rocky Mountain Research
Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Montana.

USDA NRCS. 2006. *The PLANTS database*. \<http://plants.usda.gov\>.
Accessed: 060802. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

## Prepared By & Species Coordinator

Daniel G. Ogle

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

Edited 19sep00 jsp;03feb03ahv; 060802 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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