Canadian wildrye "Icy Blue"

Canada wild rye "Icy Blue" - Elymus canadensis.
A perennial from the Poaceae family.
Origin: North America: riverbanks, prairies, open ground.
Erect stems with beautiful, slightly drooping, spike-shaped inflorescences remain attractive until winter.
Foliage: erect or arching stems and flat, wide, waxy-green, pointed leaves growing from the base of the stem to the spike.
Easy to grow, fast-growing, used as a companion crop for slow-growing prairie grasses and perennials. Moderately drought-resistant and winter-hardy. Tolerates salinity and shade. Forms beautiful gray-blue clumps.
Plant height: 140 cm.
Flower color: blue spikes.
Natural flowering period: June - October. Winter hardiness zones: Z3 - Z8.
Uses: Suitable for cut flowers.
1.0 g = 225 seeds.

* Elymus canadensis is a short-rhizome grass that forms a bush up to 1.8 m tall. It blooms very spectacularly.
The flowers arch gracefully, slightly drooping, reminiscent of rye. The spikelets are initially green, gradually turning a wheat-colored color and remaining attractive throughout the winter.
The long stems are not very strong and can break apart, so they require support.
This fast-growing grass is easy to cultivate. It thrives in full sun in almost any soil, moist or dry. It is not picky about soil fertility. It regrows fairly early and, if the flower stems are cut back in summer, can bloom a second time.
It is difficult to clearly classify it as a cool-season or warm-season grass – it regrows early, blooms quickly, grows throughout the summer, and does not go dormant.
Elymus canadensis is a perennial grass. It may fall out after 2-3 years. There's no point in propagating it by division, as the cuttings from the old mound can quickly die.
It's easily propagated by seed and blooms in the first year. You can maintain a striking mound by regularly sowing seeds in the chosen location of the mixed border.
It self-sows, which can be a nuisance in small gardens. It makes a wonderful background plant and pairs well with many plants, such as hostas.

Bot. syn.: Elymus wiegandii.