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