Western wheatgrass

Pascopyrum smithii

Formerly Agropyron smithii. Cool season, strongly rhizomatous, long-lived perennial. Widely adapted; saline-tolerant and moderately drought tolerant. Tolerant of some flooding, heavy soils and cold. One of the best known and most common native grasses in North America, occurring in numerous types of native plant communities. May be replaced by Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus) on coarser soils. Moderately palatable to livestock and wildlife.