Elymus dahuricus Seeds | Dahurian Wild Rye
LATIN NAME: Elymus dahuricus
COMMON NAME: Dahurian Wild Rye
Plant Profile
Dahurian Wild Rye (Elymus dahuricus) grows as a grass in the grass family. The Dahurian wild rye awns upright, clumping stems with long, arching, blue-green leaves and dense, bristly spikes of grass flowers that ripen through summer, the whole clump carrying the soft, waving look of the meadow grasses. Spikes hold many small grains, and they feed birds and small mammals through late season. It likes sun, and light, well-drained soil. All of this makes Dahurian Wild Rye a satisfying plant to grow and to get to know.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the grass family regularly include Elymus dahuricus in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. In grass family, wild ryes have a long, practical record in forage research, and the Dahurian species appears in studies of pasture quality and erosion control. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Dahurian Wild Rye has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In open ground, the Dahurian wild rye feeds herd and holds soil both. Fast, clumping growth gives good hay and grazing through season, dense roots grip slopes and banks, and bristly spikes feed seed-eating birds. It stands cold, wind and poor soil well. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.
Wild ryes are salt- and drought-tough grasses for forage and dune stabilization, cornerstones of grassland restoration.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Dahurian Wild Rye under ordinary good conditions. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Dahurian Wild Rye is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Once the young plants are away, there is little left to do but watch them grow.
Related Reading
Readers interested in Dahurian Wild Rye frequently explore these as well: