California Bottle Brush Grass

Carried by 6 nurseries

Estimated plant range Estimated plant range

Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Plant description

Elymus californicus is a species of wild rye known by the common name California bottlebrush grass. This grass is endemic to California where it is an uncommon species known from a few counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. It grows between one and two meters in height. The tall, erect stem is nearly naked, bearing the occasional sheathing leaf with a blade 10 to 20 centimeters long. It bears an erect flower cluster which curves as it becomes heavier in grain. Each flower cluster is divided into three or four nodes with three or four spikelets per node. Each spikelet is between one and two centimeters long, not counting a long awn about two centimeters long.

Plant overview

Plant type

Grass

Size

3 - 7 ft Tall

Color

Brown

Special uses

Deer resistant

Landscaping information

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

5*, 7, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 19, 20, 21, 22*, 23*, 24*

Natural setting

Plant communities

Closed-cone Pine Forest, Douglas-Fir Forest, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, North Coastal Coniferous Forest, Forest

Wildlife supported

Bats

Caterpillars

Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 10 likely

Confirmed Likely

See all

Apamea cuculliformis

Glassy Borer

Apamea devastator

Chionodes figurella

Nevada Skipper

Hesperia nevada

Alternative names

Common names:

California Bottle Grass, California Bottle-brush Grass, California Bottlebrush Grass

Sources

Visit About Us for general information about our data sources and terms of use.