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| ## intermediate wheatgrass {#intermediate-wheatgrass .Title-Header}   |
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| *Thinopyrum intermedium* (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey                |
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| Plant Symbol = THIN6                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

![Color image of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum
intermedium)](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in"
height="2.4192913385826773in"}

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

pubescent wheatgrass, Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski, Agropyon
intermedium (Host) Beauv.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Grazing/pastureland/hayland*: Intermediate wheatgrass is used for hay
and pasture from the northern Great Plains to eastern Washington, and
south into Colorado and Kansas. It produces good hay yields both
individually and with alfalfa where stiff stems tend to keep alfalfa
from lodging. Intermediate wheatgrass is palatable to all classes of
livestock and wildlife. It is a preferred feed for cattle, sheep,
horses, deer, antelope and elk in spring, early summer and fall. It is
considered a desirable feed for cattle, sheep, horses and elk in summer
and winter.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Intermediate wheatgrass is well adapted
to stabilization of disturbed soils. It can be used in critical and
urban areas where irrigation water is limited and to stabilize
ditchbanks, dikes and roadsides. This grass can also be use to build
soils because of its heavy root production. Levels as high as 7,000
pounds (dry weight) per acre of root production in the upper 8 inches of
soil have been measured in 5 year old stands.

*Wildlife*: Strips of this grass ungrazed provide good nesting cover for
game birds and migratory waterfowl.

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Intermediate wheatgrass is an introduced perennial grass native to
Europe and Asia. Included with this species is pubescent wheatgrass
(formerly *Agropyron trichophorum*), an introduced perennial grass
native to Europe and Asia considered slightly more drought tolerant and
winter hardy than intermediate wheatgrass. As the common name implies,
the flower spikes and leaves of the pubescent form are densely covered
with hairs whereas intermediate wheatgrass' vegetative structures are
for the most part smooth, but may have a fringe of hairs on the leaf
margins.

Intermediate wheatgrass grows to 3 to 4 feet tall. It is a long-lived
cool season grasses with short rhizomes and a deep feeding root system.
The seed spikes may be up to 4 to 8 inches long. Leaves are 4-8 mm wide
and green to blue-green in color and sometimes drooping. The florets are
usually fewer than seven. Intermediate and pubescent wheatgrass readily
cross and commercial seed often contains both types.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Intermediate wheatgrass is adapted to areas with 12 to 13 inches of
annual rainfall or greater. The pubescent type can tolerate slightly
more droughty conditions of about 11 to 12 inches of rainfall or
greater. The species performs best above 3,500 and up to 9,000 feet
elevation. It can be seeded at lower elevations, but its moisture
requirement is greater. It is not as drought tolerant as some cultivars
of crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, and Russian wildrye.

Intermediate wheatgrass prefers well drained loamy to clayey textured
soils; the pubescent form performs best on loamy to sandy to shallow
soils. It will tolerate slightly acidic to mildly saline conditions, are
cold tolerant, can withstand moderate periodic flooding in the spring,
and are very tolerant of fire. The pubescent form can tolerate lower
fertility, more alkaline soils, higher elevations and drier conditions
than intermediate wheatgrass. The species performs poorly on wet, poorly
drained, moderately saline to alkaline soils.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Intermediate wheatgrass should be seeded with a drill at a depth of ½
inch or less on medium to fine textured soils and no more than 1 inch
deep on coarse textured soils. When seeded alone, a rate of 10 to 12
pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre or 21 to 25 PLS seeds per square
foot is recommended. It is compatible with other species, particularly
alfalfa. If used as a component of a mix, adjust to percent of mix
desired. The best dryland results are obtained from seeding in very
early spring on heavy to medium textured soils and in late fall
(dormant) on medium to light textured soils. Irrigated lands should be
seeded in spring through summer. Late summer (August - mid September)
seedings are not recommended unless irrigation is available.

For mined lands, roadsides and other harsh critical areas, the seeding
rate should be increased to 15 to 18 pounds PLS per acre or 31 to 38 PLS
seeds per square foot. Light frequent irrigations are beneficial for
stand establishment.

Protect new seedings until they are fully established and are able to
withstand pulling by grazing animals without being uprooted. It is
desirable to cut at least one hay crop prior to grazing. Stands may
require weed control measures during establishment. Application of 2,4-D
should not be made until plants have reached the 4 to 6 leaf stage. Mow
weeds at or prior to their bloom stage.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Ten to twelve inches of new growth should be attained in spring before
grazing is allowed on established stands. A six-inch stubble height
should be maintained following each mowing and going into winter. Care
should be taken to allow proper rest of 21 to 28 days between grazing
periods in irrigated and high moisture situations. When planted with a
legume, harvest hay at optimum stage for the legume. This will allow the
grass to be harvested prior to flowering and result in very high quality
hay. Harvest pure stands for hay when plants start to flower. Apply
nitrogen as needed to maintain vigorous growth. A balance of nitrogen
and phosphate fertilizer needs to be considered in order to maintain a
legume component. A soil test is recommended.

Intermediate wheatgrass is distributed primarily throughout the West.
For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

New stands may also be damaged by grasshoppers and other insects and
pesticides may be needed.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Russian seed origin: 'Chief', 'Clarke', 'Luna' (Russia, Turkey), 'Mandan
759', 'Manska', 'Oahe.' Turkish seed origin: 'Tegmar'. Other seed
sources: 'Amur' (China), 'Greenleaf', 'Reliant', 'Rush', 'Slate.'

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

Dan Ogle

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

##### Edited: 08Nov2001 JLK; 060818 jsp {#edited-08nov2001-jlk-060818-jsp .Header-4}

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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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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