Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Elymus multisetus is a species of wild rye known by the common name big squirreltail. It is native to the western United States where it grows in many types of habitat. It is a perennial grass reaching 60 centimeters in maximum height. The flower cluster is an array of spikelets each with several long, hairlike awns which may be up to 20 centimeters long.

Plant type

Grass

Size

2 ft Tall
1 - 2 ft Wide

Form

Fountain

Dormancy

Winter Semi-deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Brown, Green, Purple

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

. Tolerates serpentine soil..

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

1*, 2*, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7*, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Open, sandy rocky places

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 10 likely

Confirmed Likely

Apamea cuculliformis

Glassy Borer

Apamea devastator

Chionodes figurella

Nevada Skipper

Hesperia nevada