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Native Plant Society of Texas

Western Wheatgrass

Pascopyrum smithii

Other common name(s):

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Flatwoods

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Shrubland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

A blue-green turf grass that can be mowed. Widely used for erosion control. Spreads easily, give lots of room, or thin and reduce water to control growth. In wet years it may tend to crowd out other plants. Not common in plant nurseries but seeds are available commercially. Native habitat: hillsides, bottomlands, canyons, open woods, prairies, scrubland, swales and ditches with seasonal poor drainage.

Description

Blooms May-June A densely colonizing turf grass. Its dense, narrow, spikes occur at the top of stout stems. The entire plant is often covered with a white coating, lending a silvery caste to its blue-green leaves. The leaves are less than a quarter inch wide and, when dry, roll up longitudinally to display prominent ridges on the tops.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Agropyron molle, Agropyron smithii, Agropyron smithii var. molle, Agropyron smithii var. palmeri, Elymus smithii, Elytrigia smithii, Elytrigia smithii var. mollis

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment The best germination rates are achieved when fresh seeds are sown immediately after harvesting. The seeds can be directly sown in the field, or they can be started in a nursery or greenhouse. The ideal time to plant the seeds is in the early spring or fall when the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Elymus smithii prefers well-drained soil. Prepare a seedbed by removing weeds and rocks and loosening the soil. Mix the seeds with sand to spread them evenly and ensure they do not clump together. Broadcast the seed mixture onto the prepared seedbed and cover them with a very thin layer of soil, no more than 1/4 inch of soil. Do not bury the seeds too deep. Do not overwater as it can cause the seeds to rot. Germination takes about 10-14 days to germinate. The seeds can be collected from the mature spikelets in late summer or early fall and stored in a cool, dry place for later use. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/elymus-smithii-rydb-gould/566516/1
Rhizome Division Prepare a planting bed by removing weeds and rocks and loosening the soil. Dig shallow furrows in the prepared bed, making sure they are spaced apart to allow for their growth. Place the rhizomes in the furrows and cover with soil. Water the furrows well to moisten the soil and allow for good soil-to-rhizome contact. Water the plants regularly until they mature; it may take some time to establish fully. Dig healthy, mature parent plants carefully to avoid damaging them. Remove rhizomes that have formed and cut them into small sections around 2 to 3 inches long. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/elymus-smithii-rydb-gould/566516/1

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason