BEARDLESS WILDRYE

Leymus triticoides (Buckl.) Pilger

Plant Symbol = LETR5

Common Names: Creeping wildrye, alkali ryegrass, valley 

wildrye

Scientific Names: Elymus triticoides Buckley

Description

General: Grass Family (Poaceae). Beardless wildrye is a 

cool-season, perennial, sod-forming native grass. It grows 18 to 51 inches tall and is strongly rhizomatous (Hickman, 1993). 

Stems are usually smooth, but are occasionally hairy. Leaf blades are green to blue-green, stiff and flat early in the growth 

season, becoming rolled later in the year, and are 0.1 to 0.2 inch wide. The spike is narrow and 2 to 7.9 inches long, with 

typically two or more spikelets occurring per node, except for occasional single spikelets near the top. Glumes and lemmas 

are sharp pointed, and lemmas are generally tipped with an approximately 0.1 inch awn. 

Identification: Beardless wildrye hybridizes with Leymus condensatus, L. mollis and L. cinereus. It may be confused with 

western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) due to their similar habitat and growth habit (OSU Extension Service, 1979). It 

can be distinguished from western wheatgrass by the double spikelets at each node (P. smithii usually has only one spikelet 

per node). Beardless wildrye also lacks the minute saw-toothed edge found on the leaves of western wheatgrass, and it is

generally taller than western wheatgrass. The glumes of beardless wildrye are narrow, short and acute, with only a single 

vein, while those of western wheatgrass are lanceolate, long-tapering, and have several veins (Barkworth and Atkins, 1984).

Distribution: Beardless wildrye is found throughout the western United States at elevations below 9,000 ft, ranging from 

Washington to Montana and south to California and western Texas (CHC, 2010; Hickman, 1993). For current distribution, 

please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. 

Adaptation

Beardless wildrye grows in dry to moist, often saline meadows (Barkworth, 2009). It does well on sandy loams to poorlydrained soils where adequate soil moisture is present throughout the growing season, and is found in valleys, foothills, 

mountain flats and meadows (USDA-SCS, 1988). It is thought that beardless wildrye was one of the dominant species in the 

prairies and lowland oak woodlands of the Central Valley of California prior to European settlement and conversion to 

agriculture (Holstein, 2001). 

This species tolerates neutral to strongly alkaline soils (pH 6.0 to 9.0), moderate shading, 7 to 60 inches of precipitation, and 

soils classified as strongly saline (greater than 15 dS/m) (PLANTS database, 2010). Winter hardiness and frost tolerance are 

good, though variable among seed lots. 

Uses

Beardless wildrye is primarily used for soil stabilization, especially along channel or river banks, and for wildlife habitat in 

wetland and riparian plantings. It is also recommended for use as forage and for reclamation of saline-affected, irrigated 

cropland and pastureland (Dyer and O’Beck, 2005).

Soil stabilization: This grass is tolerant to periods of prolonged inundation, and lays flat during high water flow periods, thus 

allowing full water flow while still protecting the stream, river or canal bank. It can tolerate up to 12 inches (30 cm) of 

sediment deposition (USDA-NRCS, 1991). 

Forage: Beardless wildrye is moderately palatable to all livestock, especially in the early spring before it becomes coarse. It 

tolerates trampling and recovers well following grazing (Bishop, 1996). 

Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide

Photo by Anna Young-Mathews, Lockeford PMC
Wildlife: Wet meadows dominated by beardless wildrye provide high quality nesting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and 

wetland-obligate passarines, as well as foraging areas for Canada geese and Sandhill cranes (Kilbride et al., 1997). Seasonal 

wetlands and dry meadows of beardless wildrye also provide habitat for reptiles, rodents and other small mammals (McAdoo 

et al., 2006; Olson, 2001). 

Ethnobotany

Beardless wildrye seed was used historically by Native Americans in California as meal, or pinole (Chesnut, 1902, Zigmond, 

1981). Seed was harvested with a beater into a V-shaped gathering basket. The grass was also harvested for forage later in the 

summer as it stays green longer than other grasses. The seed was pounded in a bedrock mortar-hole and cooked and eaten as 

a thick mush (Zignond, 1981). The medicinal use of ergot, which can infect beardless wildrye was known to Indians in 

Round Valley in California (Chesnut, 1902). The Thompson Indians of British Coumbia used the culms as a substitute for 

making basketry. (Steedman, 1928).

Status

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, state natural resource, or 

state agriculture department regarding its status and use.

Please consult the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov/) and your state’s Department of Natural Resources for this 

plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Planting Guidelines

Vegetative planting of rhizomes (‘sprigging’) or plugs in mid-September to November is recommended to establish beardless 

wildrye on sites typically saturated or inundated in the spring or early summer, or where rapid cover is needed. Stand 

establishment from sprigs is slow during the first year, but once established rhizomes spread rapidly to produce better 

coverage and more forage than stands originating from seed. In California, plugs are often planted on 1-ft (30-cm) centers if 

rapid cover and erosion control is needed, or on 2 to 3-ft (60 to 90-cm) centers for large projects without erosion control 

problems (J. Anderson, Hedgerow Farms, personal communication, 2009). 

High levels of seed dormancy due to an impermeable seed coat make stand establishment difficult (Knapp and Wiesner, 

1978). Fall, dormant plantings are recommended for northern regions in order to break seed dormancy by overwintering in 

the soil. Seedlings have poor vigor, develop slowly, and compete poorly with weeds and other forage grasses in the first year 

of establishment. It is very important to minimize weed competition with properly prepared seedbeds and appropriate weed 

management in the year prior to seeding. 

For range and pasture seedings, seeds should be drilled into a well-disked seedbed in late fall at a depth of 0 to 1⁄4 inch (6 

mm) and a rate of 7 to 10 lbs pure live seed (PLS) per acre for full-rate, monotypic seedings (Bridger MTPMC, unpublished 

report, 1980). For restoration plantings where drilling is not possible, seeds can be broadcast at a rate of 15 PLS lbs/acre 

(USDA-SCS, 1988). For areas with high erosion potential, beardless wildrye (or other) straw can be blown on the site and 

crimped in to keep seeds moist and in place during germination. 

Because seeds can take 3 to 4 weeks to germinate, weeds should be controlled before seedlings appear. Beardless wildrye is 

tolerant to most standard, broad-leaf herbicides, except for Telar® (active ingredient: chlorsulfuron), which can impact 

seedlings if application rates are too high. Seedlings are generally more tolerant to all standard, broad-leaf herbicides once 

they have reached the 3- to 4-leaf stage. For seed production, Milestone® (active ingredient: aminopyralid) has been 

observed to decrease seed production, although plant growth was unaffected (J. Anderson, Hedgerow Farms, personal 

communication, 2009). 

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and 

how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures 

appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and 

control methods named, and other products may be equally effective. 

Management

Once established, stands of beardless wildrye survive for many years. Beardless wildrye is highly productive for hay 

production when planted at a rate of 7 PLS lbs/acre on irrigated or sub-irrigated sites. Best yields are attained on fields with 

adequate levels of fertility, especially available nitrogen. High concentrations of salts and/or low levels of moisture result in 

poorer stand establishment, lower forage yields, and slower growth rates. 
Pests and Potential Problems

Beardless wildrye is susceptible to a soil-borne pathogen, “take-all” disease, caused by the root-inhabiting fungus Ophiobolus 

graminis (Stroh, 1968). A temporary solution to arrest the disease may be achieved with an application of P2O5 at a rate of 

100 lbs/acre. More drastic follow-up measures to renovate the site include plowing to a 6-inch depth, harrowing, and 

irrigating to promote rhizome emergence. 

Beardless wildrye varies in resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust, and ergot. ‘Rio’ was found to have the lowest levels of rust 

infestation in trials of 12 California beardless wildrye accessions. In some years, infection of ergot is high, resulting in

limited use of the name ‘honey grass’ (USDA, 1949). No ill effects are known from livestock consumption of the infected 

material.

Environmental Concerns

There are no known environmental concerns associated with beardless wildrye. 

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and 

how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures 

appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and 

control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Seeds and Plant Production

There are approximately 172,000 seeds per pound (Bridger MTPMC, unpublished report, 1988; USDA-NRCS, 1991). The 

recommended seeding rate for seed production under irrigation is 3.5 PLS lbs/acre at 24-inch row spacing (Bridger MTPMC, 

unpublished report, 1988). Seed generally matures in June – July, with little preharvest seed shatter. Seed yields are 

maximized by use of a flail-vac harvester (USDA-SCS, 1988). No special problems are presented in cleaning the seed. 

Seed production in California from cultivated stands has generally been poor, possibly due to natural hybridization with other 

Leymus species, such as giant wildrye (L. condensatus), and resulting sterility (Holstein, 2001). Rio was selected for superior 

seed set, with production averaging 300 lbs/acre (336 kg/ha) (USDA-NRCS, 1991). 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of 

origin)

‘Rio’ was released in 1991 by the Lockeford Plant Materials 

Center, CA in cooperation with the California Agricultural 

Experiment Station, UC Davis. It was collected in 1973 from a 

native stand in Stratford, Kings County, CA. The collection site 

is at an elevation of 230 ft in climate zone 8 in the San Joaquin 

Valley, where average annual precipitation ranges from 5 to 7 

inches. Seed and rhizomes were harvested from test plots at the 

Lockeford PMC and used for testing throughout the 

Mediterranean climate in California, in Major Land Resource 

Areas (MLRAs) 4, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Rio demonstrated 

superior seed viability and initial sod establishment in 

comparison with 12 other California native collections (USDANRCS, 1991). 

‘Shoshone’ beardless wildrye was released in 1980 through a 

cooperative agreement among the Bridger, MT PMC and the 

agricultural experiment stations of Montana and Wyoming. 

After its release, however, Shoshone was determined to be the 

Eurasian species Leymus multicaulis, manystem wildrye (Asay 

and Jensen, 1996). Please see the Manystem Wildrye Plant 

Guide for more information on Shoshone. Several source 

identified germplasms of beardless wildrye are commercially 

available.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more Rio in grassed waterway planting at CAPMC, 2010.
information. Look in the phone book under United States Government. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be 

listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.” 

Cultivars should be selected based on the local climate, resistance to local pests, and intended use. Consult with your local

land grant university, local extension or local USDA NRCS office for recommendations on adapted cultivars for use in your 

area.

Literature Cited

Asay, K.H., and K.B. Jensen. 1996. Wildryes. p. 725-748. In L.E. Moser, D.R. Buxton, and M.D. Casler (eds.) Cool-season 

forage grasses. Agron. 34. Amer. Soc. of Agron., Madison, WI. 

Barkworth, M.E. 2009. Leymus Hochst. Grass Manual on the Web [Online]. Available at 

http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/info2.asp?name =Leymus_triticoides&type=treatment (accessed 11 Sep. 2009; 

verified December 12, 2016). Utah State University, Logan. 

Barkworth, M.E., and R.J. Atkins. 1984. Leymus Hochst. (Gramineae: Triticeae) in North America: taxonomy and 

distribution. American J. Botany 71:609-625. 

Bishop, G. 1996. A vegetative guide to selected native grasses of California. Technical Note PM-40. USDA-NRCS, Davis, 

CA. 

CHC (Consortium of California Herbaria). 2010. Leymus triticoides and Elymus triticoides [Online]. Data provided by the 

participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Available at ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/ (updated June 

2010; accessed 18 Aug 2010; verified December 12, 2016). 

Chesnut, V.K. 1902. Plants used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California. USDA Division of Botany. Contributions 

of the US National Herbarium 7:295-422Dyer, D. and R. O’Beck.. 2005. Plant guide for beardless wildrye (Leymus 

triticoides). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center. Lockeford, CA 95237.

Hickman, J.C. (ed.) 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 

Holstein, G. 2001. Pre-agricultural grassland in Central California. Madroño 48:253-264. 

Kilbride, K.M., F.L. Paveglio, D.A. Pyke, M.S. Laws, and J.H. David. 1997. Use of integrated pest management to restore 

meadows infested with perennial pepperweed at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. USDA Agricultural Experiment 

Station, Oregon State University, Special Report 972:31-35. 

Knapp, A.D., and L.E. Wiesner. 1978. Seed dormancy of beardless wildrye (Elymus triticoides Buckl.). J. Seed Technology 

3:1-9. 

McAdoo, J.K., M.R. Barrington, and M.A. Ports. 2006. Habitat affinities of rodents in northeastern Nevada rangeland 

communities. Western North American Naturalist 66:321-331. 

Olson, T.E. 2001. Biological resources site assessment letter of findings for the Lompoc Bikepath, Allan Hancock Segment, 

Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA. 

OSU Extension Service. 1979. Beardless wildrye (Elymus triticoides). Range Plant Leaflet 77. Oregon State University, 

Corvallis. 

PLANTS database. 2010. Plant profile: Leymus triticoides (Buckley) Pilg. [Online]. Available at plants.usda.gov (accessed 2 

Sep 2009; verified 18 Aug 2010). USDA-NRCS, Washington, D.C. 

Steedman, E.V. 1928. The Ethnobotany of the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, SI-BAE Annual Report #45:441-522, 

page 499

Stroh, J.R. 1968. Cultural methods for the establishment of Elymus triticoides on saline-sodic soils. In Annual Technical

Report. USDA-SCS, Bridger Plant Materials Center, MT. 

USDA. 1949. Grasses and legumes for soil conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Miscellaneous Publication No. 678. U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 

USDA-NRCS. 1991. Notice of release of ‘Rio’ beardless wildrye. USDA-NRCS Ecological Sciences Division, Washington, 

D.C. and California Agricultural Experiment Station, UC Davis. 

USDA-SCS. 1988. Management and uses of beardless wildrye (Elymus triticoides). California Technical Note 524. US 

Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Davis, CA. 

Zigmond, Maurice L. 1981. Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 58

Prepared By 

Anna Young-Mathews 

USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center 

Lockeford, California 

Susan R. Winslow 

USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center 

Bridger, Montana

Citation
Young-Mathews, A. and S.R. Winslow. 2010. Plant guide for beardless wildrye (Leymus triticoides). USDA-Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center. Lockeford, CA 95237.

Published: October, 2009

Edited: [11Sep2009 djt, 15Sep2009 srw, 16Sep2009 aym, 18Aug2010 aym, 8Sep2010 srw, 13Sep2010 kdl, 13Sep2010 msk; 

20Sep2010 jab, 12 Dec2016 msk]

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District at 

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and visit the PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/ or the 

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