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| ## slender wheatgrass {#slender-wheatgrass .Title-Header}             |
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| *Elymus trachycaulus* (Link) Gould ex Shinners ssp. *trachycaulus*    |
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| Plant Symbol = ELTRT                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.8in" height="4.526388888888889in"}

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

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

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

*Agropyron trachycaulum, Agropyron caninum* var. *andinum*.

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

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

*Grazing/rangeland/pasture*: Slender wheatgrass is both palatable and
nutritious to livestock. Crude protein averages 22 to 25% in the spring
and drops below 10% in late summer to fall. Average dry matter yield is
between 1000 and 2300 lb/acre.

*Wildlife*: Upland game birds and small mammals utilize the seed for
food and the foliage for cover. Large ungulates, especially elk and
bighorn sheep at higher elevations, readily graze this species.

*Erosion control*: Slender wheatgrass is a short-lived perennial with
good seedling vigor. It germinates and establishes quickly when seeded
making it a good choice for quick cover on disturbed sites. It persists
long enough for other, slower developing components of seeding mixtures
to establish.

*Reclamation*: Slender wheatgrass was among the first native grasses
widely used for reclamation seedings in western Canada and the U.S. It
has been successfully used for the reclamation of mine spoils, oil
sands, roadsides right-of-ways, wildfire areas and other disturbed
sites. It is especially valuable for use in saline soils.

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

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).

**Taxonomy**

Historically, slender wheatgrass has borne many different names. Carl
Linnaeus originally placed all wheatgrasses in the genus *Triticum*
along with cultivated wheat. Later authors classified slender wheatgrass
as *Agropyron caninum*, however, it was separated to *A. trachycaulum*
from that Old World species by having broader glumes (5 to 7 nerves
instead of 3), glumes with membranous margins (not rigid), and having
anthers averaging 1.5 mm long as opposed to 2mm. More recently, it was
decided through the use of molecular, morphological and cladistic
analysis that in North America, the genus *Agropyron* should be left to
the introduced crested wheatgrass complex (*A. cristatum*, *A.
desertorum* and *A*. *fragile*), which moved slender wheatgrass to the
genus *Elymus*. This move also required the change of the epithet to
*trachycaulus* in order to match the Latin genders.

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

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). Slender wheatgrass is an erect,
tufted, bunchgrass ranging in height from 2 to 2-1/2 feet. It is a
relatively short-lived (3 to 5 years) perennial, cool-season C3 type,
bunchgrass native to Western North America.

Plants are perennial, occasionally producing short rhizomes. Culms are
erect or decumbent at the base, reaching a height of 0.5 to 1.0 meters
(20 to 40 inches) tall. Stems are noted as having a characteristic
reddish to purplish tinge at the base. The leaves are flat, usually 2 to
8 mm (0.08 to 0.31 inches) wide, stiffly ascending or somewhat lax.
Sheathes are commonly glabrous or somewhat scabrous with auricles short
or lacking.

The inflorescence is a long, spicate raceme ranging from 5 to as much as
25 cm (2 to 10 inches) long. Spikelets are solitary at each node of the
rachis, 3 to 7 flowered and about 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
Spikelets overlap along the inflorescence, the rachis internodes being 5
to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3inches) long. Glumes are lanceolate to oblong with 5
to 7 nerves. The first glume ranges from 6 to 10 mm (0.24 to 0.4 inches)
long, while second glumes are slightly longer, from 7 to 12 mm (0.3 to
0.5 inches).

**Distribution**

Slender wheatgrass is found in many plant communities including Wyoming,
basin and mountain big sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, ponderosa pine,
spruce-fir and lodgepole pine. It is found from 1300 to 3500 meters
(4,500 to 12,000 feet) in elevation. The species range includes Canada,
Siberia, Mexico and all states except those in the southeastern U.S.

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Slender wheatgrass grows naturally in moist to dry sites receiving more
than 250 mm (10 inches) annual precipitation. This species is not as
drought tolerant as crested, thickspike and streambank wheatgrasses and
may succumb to drought due to its late maturation. It prefers loamy to
clayey soils and grows at elevations from 1,300 to 3,500 meters (4,500
to 12,000 feet). Slender wheatgrass is well adapted to basic soils (up
to pH=8.8) and moderately saline conditions with a salinity tolerance
ranging from 10 to 20 mmhos/cm.

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

Seeds should be planted in a firm, weed-free seed bed. Dormant fall
planting is preferred for dryland seedings made in areas receiving less
than 16 inches mean annual precipitation. Areas receiving over 16 inches
of mean annual precipitation and fields that are irrigated can be seeded
in late fall or early spring. (Note: dormant fall seedings are more
prone to be negatively affected by soil crusting and mid to late spring
seedings are more prone to drying out).

Seeds should be drilled to a depth of ¼ to ¾ inch at a Pure Live Seed
(PLS) rate of approximately 6 lb PLS/acre for field plantings.

For critical area plantings, turf applications and broadcast plantings
the PLS seeding rate should be 1.5 to 2.0 times the drill seeding rate.

For native seed mixtures, limit slender wheatgrass to 1 to 2 pounds
PLS/acre because higher rates effect the establishment of slower
developing native species.

Fertilizer is not recommended for establishment, as it usually benefits
the weeds. On disturbed sites fertilizer should be applied according to
soil test results.

**Management**

Slender wheatgrass is best suited as a filler component in seed mixtures
containing slower establishing, long-lived perennials. It does well for
hay and pasture when combined with legumes. Because this species is
short-lived and only moderately tolerant of grazing, stands should be
managed carefully to ensure seed production occurs every other year for
long-term survival.

**Environmental Concerns**

Although slender wheatgrass is native to Western North America, it can
be viewed as "weedy" due to its ability to quickly establish in
disturbed areas.

Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension
Service Office or state natural resource or agriculture department
regarding this species' status and use. Weed information is also
available from the PLANTS Web site.

**Seed Production**

Plant at a rate of approximately 3.4 pounds PLS/acre or 25 to 30 seeds
per linear foot of drill row at 36 inch row spacing.

For stand establishment, apply 55 lb/acre of 11-55-0 (high phosphorus
fertilizer) as a soil amendment prior to planting or during seeding. If
planting into grain stubble, after initial seedling establishment, apply
30 lb/acre nitrogen for dryland or 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen for
irrigated fields. No additional nitrogen is necessary if planting into
summer fallow. Irrigate enough to keep soil moist for establishment and
to prevent soil crusting. Seeds should germinate within 8 to 10 days.
Weeds can be controlled after the 3 to 5 leaf stage with low rates of
Bromoxynil. Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using
any pesticide. Caution should be exercised when using cultivation on
young seedlings because of the possibility of uprooting.

For established stands, apply 50 lb/acre nitrogen each year in late fall
on dryland and 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen in late fall under irrigation.

On established stands keep soil moisture above fifty percent field
capacity during the growth period. Before the flowering stage apply
enough water to carry plants through pollination. After pollination,
irrigate to recharge the soil profile for seed set.

Control weeds chemically (Bromoxynil, Metribuzin, 2,4-D or dicamba), by
roguing or mechanical cultivating.

Seed is ready for harvest in late July to early August. The recommended
harvest method is by direct combining or by swathing followed by
combining. Windrows should be allowed to dry in the field for 6 to 7
days before combining.

Seed yields range from 200 to 400 lb/acre in dryland to 500 to 600
lb/acre under irrigation. Seed should be dried to 12 percent or less
moisture prior to storage. When stored properly, cleaned seed should
retain its viability for about five years. Stands can be expected to
survive for 3 to 5 years.

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

No insect or disease problems have been noted for this species.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials .Header-3}

'Adanac' was released by the Agriculture Canada, Saskatoon Research
Station and the Agriculture Canada Experiment Farm in 1990. Plants are
taller than those of Revenue, but have fewer leaves. Adanac averaged 7%
higher hay yields than Revenue during a four-year study. Adanac also
rated higher than Revenue in establishment, persistence, seed yield and
productivity under saline conditions. However, digestibility and protein
content are somewhat below those of Revenue. This release is recommended
for use in Saskatchewan, Canada. Breeder seed is maintained by the
Agriculture Canada, Saskatoon Research Station and the Agriculture
Canada Experiment Farm, Indian Head.

'Elbee' was released in 1980 by S. Smoliak and A. Johnson of Agriculture
Canada Research Station, Lethbridge, Alberta. This is an eight-clone
synthetic variety selected for aggressiveness of rhizomes, and forage
and seed yields. This variety has excellent germination, high seedling
vigor, drought tolerance, early spring growth and an aggressive root
system. It is primarily intended for range and pasture seedings in the
dark soil zones of the prairies as well as for revegetation of roadsides
and industrial disturbances. Breeder seed is available through
Agriculture Canada Research Station, Lethbridge, Alberta.

'AEC Hillcrest' was released by the Alberta Environmental Centre in
1994. Its primary uses are in reclaiming and revegetation of disturbed
sites in the mountains and foothills of Alberta. This cultivar belongs
to a different subspecies than the others discussed here (*Elymus
trachycaulus* ssp. *subsecundus*) and is therefore difficult to compare
directly. Data show AEC Hillcrest producing similar plant cover to
Revenue at elevations around 1800 meters. Hillcrest seeds also tend to
ripen two weeks earlier than Revenue, an important quality in the
shortened growing season of Alberta. Breeder seed is maintained by the
Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta. Foundation and
Certified seed is maintained by Peace Valley Seeds, Rycroft, Alberta.

'Primar' was released by the NRCS Plant Materials Center in Pullman,
Washington in 1946. Originally collected near Beebe, Montana, Primar was
selected for use in sweetclover-grass conservation mixtures for pasture,
hay and green manure. Plants are high in vegetative production and show
resistance to leaf rust, stem rust and stripe rust. This cultivar is
adapted to short-lived dryland seedings in areas receiving over 16"
annual precipitation. Pullman Plant Materials Center maintains Breeder
seed and Washington Crop Improvement Association maintain Foundation
seed.

'Pryor' was released cooperatively by the NRCS Plant Materials Center in
Bridger, Montana and the Montana and Wyoming Agricultural Experiment
Stations in 1988. The original collection was made in Carbon County,
Montana, five miles north of Warren. It is superior to other previously
released slender wheatgrasses in drought tolerance, saline tolerance and
seedling vigor. It also matures earlier and has a larger mean seed size
(213,000 seeds/kg compared to 320,000 seeds/kg). For these reasons it is
used primarily in mixtures for reclamation and conservation plantings in
low precipitation, alkali conditions. Breeder and Foundation seed are
maintained by the NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana.

'Revenue' was originally collected in Saskatchewan in 1961. It was
selected from over 750 native and introduced collections evaluated
between 1959 and 1969 and released in 1970 by the Canada Department of
Agriculture. Revenue is said to be superior to Primar in establishment,
forage and seed yield and in salinity tolerance. It also has a higher
leaf-to-stem ratio, better digestibility and greater smut resistance
than Primar. It is similar to Primar in maintaining good stands for
three to five years. It is adapted for use on saline soils and in short
pasture rotations. Breeder seed is maintained by the Canada Department
of Agriculture.

'San Luis' was released cooperatively in 1984 by Colorado, and New
Mexico Agricultural Experiment Stations, NRCS, and the Upper Colorado
Environmental Plant Center. The original collection was made by Glenn
Niner in 1975 near Center, San Luis Valley, Rio Grande County, Colorado.
Due to its outstanding rapid establishment and longevity it is well
suited for soil stabilization on slopes and disturbed sites. It performs
best above 1,800 meters elevation in areas receiving over 35 cm (14
inches) of annual precipitation. It is recommended for ski slopes,
roadsides, mine land reclamation and transmission corridors. Breeder and
Foundation seed is maintained by the Upper Colorado Environmental Plant
Center, Meeker, Colorado.

##### References {#references .Header-3}

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

Barkworth, M.E. 1997. Taxonomic and nomenclatural comments on the
Triticeae in North America. *Phytologia*. 83(4): 302-311.

Block, D.N. *Rangeland Ecosystems and Plants: Elymus trachycaulus.*
(<http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/classes/range/agropyrontrach.html>,
3 December 2004). Department of Plant Sciences. University of
Saskatchewan, (insert city).

Cornforth, B., L. St. John and D. G. Ogle. 2001. *Seed production
standards for conservation plants in the Intermountain West*. Technical
Note 14. USDA-NRCS, Boise.

Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren and J.L. Reveal. 1977.
*Intermountain flora: vascular plants of the intermountain West*, USA.
The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.

Darroch, B.A. and S.N. Acharya. 1996. AEC Hillcrest awned slender
wheatgrass. Can. J. *Plant Sci*. 76: 345-347.

Haas, R.J., K.K. Sedivec, & D.A. Tober. 1997. *Grass varieties for North
Dakota*. Extension Service Circular R-794.
(<http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/hay.htm>). North Dakota State
University, Bismarck.

Hitchcock, A.S. 1951. *Manual of the grasses of the United States*.
USDA, Washington, D.C.

Janish, J.R. 1969. *Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Part 1:
Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons.* University of
Washington Press, Seattle.

Ogle, D. G., L. St. John, M. Stannard and L. Holzworth. 2003. *Grass,
grass-like, forb, legume, and woody species for the intermountain West*.
Technical Note 24. USDA-NRCS, Boise.

Poole, B., J. Dickerson, B. Wark, D. Burgdorf, R. Maher, T. Bush, & C.
Miller. 1998. *Vegetating with native grasses in northeastern North
America*. USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Skinner, David M. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Elymus
trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners seeds; Pullman Plant Materials
Center, Pullman, Washington.
([http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org](http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/),
3 December 2004). University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources,
Forest Research Nursery, Moscow.

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.

USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5
[(http://plants.usda.gov)](http://plants.usda.gov/). [National Plant
Data Center](http://npdc.usda.gov/npdc/index.html), Baton Rouge.

Van Bruggen, T. 1976. *The vascular plants of South Dakota*. The Iowa
State University Press, Ames.

Wark, D.B., W.R. Poole, R.G. Arnott, L.R. Moats, & L. Wetter 1994.
*Revegetating with native grasses*. Ducks Unlimited Canada, Stonewall.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Derek J. Tilley*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho

*Dan Ogle*

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

*Loren St. John*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho

*Larry Holzworth*

USDA NRCS Montana State Office, Bozeman, Montana

*Wayne Crowder*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington

*Mark Majerus*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana

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

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Dan Ogle*

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

Edited: 10Dec04djt; 21jan05dgo; 1Jan05lsj; 6Jan05wac; 14Jan05lkh,
20Jan05 rln; 06jun06 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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