These grasses are most productive in spring and fall during periods of cool temperatures and plentiful moisture. It is primarily used in seed mixtures of introduced and native grasses due to its excellent seedling vigor, ease of establishment and fast growth.
Plants lose vigor and decline in abundance within three to four years.
Presence in mixtures improves stand productivity, especially during the first production year, until other grasses become better established. It possesses a high tolerance to saline-alkali soils. Adapted primarily for soil erosion control and general purpose ground cover on roadsides, airports and disturbed areas. Stem and leaf rusting may be a problem on some sites. 1995 Thickspike wheatgrass is a strongly rhizomatous, perennial, sodforming grass found on rough, broken buttes and to a limited extent on sagebrush flats in native grasslands.