Bottlebrush Grass (also known as Eastern Bottlebrush Grass)
Elymus hystrix (formerly Hystrix patula) · Cool-season (C3), Perennial
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Triticeae
Grass Category
Native Prairie/Woodland Grass, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
Native Ecotype (no specific commercial cultivar, though often sourced regionally for restoration)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; very cold hardy, enters semi-dormancy in high summer heat if not watered.
About This Grass
An attractive, cool-season woodland grass reaching 2.5 to 4.5 feet in height. It features arching, bright green foliage and highly distinctive, oversized, horizontal seed heads that resemble a kitchen bottlebrush. The seed heads appear in early to mid-summer and turn a straw color by autumn.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-coarse blades (6-15mm wide); flat, tapering to a sharp point; bright lime-green to medium green. Vernation is rolled; the ligule is short, membranous, and truncated; auricles are typically present and clasping the stem (often purplish at the base).
Root System
Abundant fibrous root system with moderate depth; non-thatching. It establishes relatively quickly from seed compared to other native perennials but does not form a dense turf/sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern and Central North America, from Quebec to Georgia and west to the Great Plains; thrives in deciduous woodlands and forest edges.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming). It remains in distinct, non-invasive tufts and does not produce rhizomes or stolons.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Shade to Shade (highly shade tolerant for a grass), but can grow in sun with moist soil; moderate water needs; prefers well-drained loamy soil but is adaptable to various pH levels.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low maintenance. Not intended for turf mowing; if used in naturalistic settings, it is left unmowed to display seed heads. Can be cut back to the ground in late winter/early spring to allow for fresh growth. Requires little to no fertilization.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance; unique architectural seed heads for floral arrangements; deer and rabbit resistant; drought tolerant once established in a woodland setting.
Ecological Information
Native status in North America. Provides high value as a larval host for various Satyrid butterflies and moths. Seeds are consumed by birds and small mammals. Excellent for woodlot restoration to prevent erosion and suppress invasive species like Garlic Mustard.