Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Triticeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Erosion Control, and Low-maintenance Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Fairway (suggested based on low-growing, dense tillering habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; exceptional cold hardiness; enters summer dormancy during extreme heat/drought and winter dormancy after first hard frost.
About This Grass
A hardy, long-lived bunchgrass characterized by a distinctive 'comb-like' flattened seed head. It has a grey-green to blue-green color, turning straw-colored during summer dormancy. It grows 10-20 inches if unmowed, but maintainable as a rough turf.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (2-5mm), flat, tapering to a sharp point; veins are prominent on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small and clasping.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system reaching up to 6 feet; very fast establishment; low thatch tendency; excellent drought tolerance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Russia and Siberia; adapted to the Northern Great Plains and Intermountain West of North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), though some cultivars show slight rhizomatous tendencies; forms dense persistent tufts.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (minimum 6 hours); very low water needs once established; highly drought-tolerant; prefers well-drained loamy to clay soils with pH 6.0-8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height of 2.5-4 inches for turf use; low frequency; low fertilization (0-1 lb N per 1000 sq ft); very low maintenance requirements.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance for foot traffic; high drought recovery; competitive against weeds (especially cheatgrass); salt tolerant; poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; highly effective for soil stabilization on disturbed lands; used for wildfire revegetation; can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems; provides early spring forage for wildlife.