Silky Wild-rye

Elymus villosus

Native to South Carolina (estimated)

Elymus villosus — whole photograph — Daderot · CC0 · Original photograph · Wikimedia thumbnail; no crop or retouching

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

19CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including SC

Genus host records with ranges including SC · Elymus

Amblyscirtes vialisCommon Roadside-Skipper, Black Little Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
Leucania commoidesDusky Wainscot, Comma Wainscot
Leucania multilineaMany-Lined Wainscot
Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
Leucania pseudargyriaFalse Wainscot
Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper

Show all 19

Loscopia velataVeiled Ear Moth, Veiled Grass Moth
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)

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

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae

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 shade (3–6 hours); Shade (under 3 hours)” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
Soil · “Wet-mesic; Mesic; Dry-mesic” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed

Also known as

Hairy Wild Rye; Silky Wild rye

Conservation status

South Carolina rank	Not available
Global rank	G5
SC status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your spot?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

Choose a county to begin.

How to check your spot

Sources