Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush Grass) Unity Grown

Elymus hystrix, also called bottlebrush grass, is an ornamental perennial grass native to much of the eastern United States. Commonly found in drier woodland areas growing in large clumps, bottlebrush grass is named for its showy bottlebrush-type flowers and seedheads through the summer. As a cool season grass, Elymus hystrix puts on almost all of its growth in the spring and fall, when temperatures get a bit cooler, and slows down during the summer. Though often found in pastel shades of green and blonde-yellow, as fall approaches, bottlebrush grass takes on tawnier tones, becoming golden and brassy during the autumn months, adding seasonal appeal to the harvest landscape. Elymus hystrix is unique among many grasses for its full sized growth habit, up to 2-5' tall, even in partial and full shade environments, making it an excellent addition to shadier spots where other grasses just don't work.

Though Elymus hystrix is wind pollinated and does not attract pollinators, it is a host plant for several species of butterfly and moth, including the Northern Pearly-eye (Enodia anthedon), an eye-catching butterfly found throughout the mid-Atlantic. After seed heads begin to set, and linger on into the early winter, these grasses also attract a wide variety of birds that feed upon the mature seed. Though bottlebrush grass is a great choice for woodland gardens, this gorgeous grass is also incredibly versatile, tolerating drought and dry soils, growing well under black walnut, and even managing to tolerate urban conditions and erosion. Although not quite deer resistant, as they may be munched on occasion, Elymus hystrix is typically left alone by deer except during harsher seasons where other woodland plants may have already been picked over. Some care should be taken with choosing an appropriate planting location for bottlebrush grass, as mature seed awns can be rather sharp, and get stuck in the tender paws of pets (the scientific name hystrix refers to the similarity of the grass's seed bristles to porcupine quills).