Scientific Name: ELYTRIGIA SMITHII (AGROPYRON SMITHII)
Common Name: WESTERN WHEATGRASS
Erosion Index: EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value: 8.1
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 6.15
Ecological Distribution: CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: UPLAND
Elevation Tolerance: TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance: LEVEL TO GENTLY SLOPING, MODERATE OR UNDULATING SLOPES
Aspect Tolerance: TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN, TOLERANT TO SUN-SHADE MIX
Wetland Regional Indicator: FACULTATIVE
Physical Form: GRASS
Habit: OTHER
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: 1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval: 1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth: SLOW GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, SOD-FORMING, DENSE FOLIAGE
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT, GRAZING TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP
Flowering Period: JUL, AUG, SEP
Fruiting Period: JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture: WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS
Soil Fertility: HIGH SOIL FERTILITY
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH: SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Soil Depth: MODERATELY DEEP SOIL (12 - 36 IN.)
Salinity: TOLERANT ACROSS A RANGE OF SALINITY CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Short-term Pest: NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics: DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations: POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential: NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food: GOOD
Large Mammal Food: GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food: GOOD
Waterfowl Food: FAIR
Nongame Birds Food: GOOD
Small Mammal Cover: GOOD
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: GOOD
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: GOOD
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: HIGH
Erosion Hardiness: HIGH
Ease of Propagation: MEDIUM
Soil Binding: LOW
Soil Enrichment Potential: LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: LOW
Source Availability: COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET, SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio: UNKNOWN
Reproduction: SEEDS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: MAMMALS, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval: OVER 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: SEEDS
Relative Expense: MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes: - Grows best on salty sites and clay soils. - A good grass for seeding waterways.

Associated Species:

BLUE GRAMA BUFFALOGRASS
HAIRY GRAMA HONEY MESQUITE
INDIANGRASS JUNIPER SPP.
LITTLE BLUESTEM SCURFPEA
SWITCHGRASS