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Silky Wild-rye

Elymus villosus

47
Good

Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
About 3 feet in flower
Light
Part to full shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Bloom
June to August

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 16 Arkansas counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

20CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Elymus

  • Amblyscirtes vialisCommon Roadside-Skipper, Black Little Skipper
  • Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
  • Apamea lignicoloraWood-Colored Apamea
  • Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
  • Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
  • Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
  • Helcystogramma hystricellaLanceolate Helcystogramma, Lanceolate Moth
  • Lethe anthedonNorthern Pearly Eye
  • Leucania commoidesDusky Wainscot, Comma Wainscot
  • Leucania multilineaMany-Lined Wainscot
Show all 20
  • Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
  • Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Nephelodes miniansBronzed Cutworm
  • Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Polites themistoclesTawny-Edged Skipper
  • Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Elachista illectella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
4BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Elymus

  • Alectoris chukarChukar
  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
  • Bloom · “June to August” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
  • Height · “About 3 feet in flower” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
  • Light · “Part to full shade” · Tennessee Smart Yards (ranked first; Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differs) · Published Tennessee growing guidance; exact cached scientific heading
  • Soil · “moderately wet to moderately dry” · Tennessee Smart Yards (ranked first; Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differs) · Published Tennessee growing guidance; exact cached scientific heading
Also known as

Hairy Wild Rye; Silky Wild rye

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNR
Global rankG5
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

Sources