Slender Wheatgrass

Elymus trachycaulus

Good

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height: ranging from 6 to 48 inches
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to average

Elymus trachycaulus — fruit photograph — Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. · Public domain · Original photograph

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Light · Leaves · Bloom

Bloom: NC species account not read yet.

Spread, light and leaves: no source found yet.

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 2 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 76 animals.

Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Dendroica caerulescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

25CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Elymus

Amblyscirtes vialisCommon Roadside-Skipper, Black Little Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
Apamea devastatorGlassy Borer, Glassy Cutworm Moth
Apamea lignicoloraWood-Colored Apamea
Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Ctenucha virginicaVirginia Ctenucha
Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
Lethe anthedonNorthern Pearly Eye

Show all 25

Leucania commoidesDusky Wainscot, Comma Wainscot
Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
Leucania pseudargyriaFalse Wainscot
Limochores mysticLong Dash
Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
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
Apamea lutosa
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
Flower color: Green

What its natural habitat tells you

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Green” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Height · “ranging from 6 to 48 inches” · Fire Effects Information System: Elymus trachycaulus (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Also known as

Agropyron trachycaulum

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	S2
Global rank	G5
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

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