Blue Wildrye

Blue Wildrye is a native, perennial, cool-season bunch grass that is used for seeding burned or cutover forest areas and is also good for streambank restoration.  It naturally grows in a wide range of habitats, from native prairie and other open areas to forests, from northern Mexico to Alaska and east to the Great Plains.  It occurs from sea level to above timberline.  Blue Wildrye prefers moist conditions but is a good competitor that can establish both on disturbed and undisturbed sites.  It survives wildfire by burning quickly, thus having very little downward transfer of heat.   Additionally, it has attractive blue green foliage that make it useful for landscape projects where soil stabilization is needed.