Elymus hystrixBottle brush grass
Family:Poaceae
属:披碱草属
common name:Bottle brush grass
introduce:Plant Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: Eastern United States
Height: 2.5 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: September - October
Bloom Color: Green maturing to brown
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Adapts to wide range of soil conditions including heavy clay. Easily grown from seed and will readily self seed in the garden under optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Bottle brush grass is a Missouri native perennial grass which occurs in dry woodland areas throughout the State. Forms loose upright tufts of narrow-bladed, rough-textured, medium green leaves (to 12" long). Greenish, bristly flower heads (9-10" long) rise well above the foliage in summer, maturing to brown in late summer and persisting on the plant well into autumn. Flower heads resemble bottle brushes and are the best ornamental feature of this grass, particularly when backlit. Hystrix in Greek means hedgehog (porcupine) in reference to the supposed resemblance of the seed head bristles to the hedgehog quills.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Plant in clumps, mass or naturalize in a lightly-shaded woodland setting, native plant garden or naturalized area.
