Russian Wildrye

Elymus junceus, commonly known as Russian wildrye, is a long-lived cool-season bunchgrass notable for its resemblance to crested wheatgrass. Native to Russia, this grass has been introduced into various regions including the Northern Great Plains, Intermountain, and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. Russian wildrye thrives best in silty and clayey soils with high fertility and a balanced precipitation regime. Once established, Russian wildrye demonstrates greater drought resistance compared to crested wheatgrass. Primarily used for pastures, Russian wildrye’s wide plant spacings limit its effectiveness in controlling soil erosion or stabilization on slopes. It is commonly utilized as a supplemental forage resource in spring and fall, complementing other forage options available. Overall, Russian wildrye offers valuable contributions to pasture systems in regions where it is well-adapted, providing reliable forage resources for livestock grazing.