Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by very short awns and coastal habitat.
Blue wildrye is a California native perennial grass found in northern coastal, northern coastal ranges, and central western regions in conifer forest, chaparral, and along riverbanks at elevations up to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this grass produces pale green to bluish-green spikelets with delicate, sparse awns. Growing in dense clumps 30 to 100 centimeters tall with upright to slightly arching stems, it forms robust and adaptable clusters in varied landscapes. Its leaf blades are nearly smooth to slightly rough, typically 5 to 15 millimeters wide, with a distinctive bluish-green to grayish-green coloration. The grass produces slender, relatively short awns measuring 0 to 5 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate, graceful appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinguished by very short awns and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, chaparral, rocky soils, riverbanks
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, San Mateo, Yolo
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Hordeum: Elymus has rounded glume backs; Hordeum has all glumes narrow and bristle-like.; vs Leymus: Elymus has 2-8 spikelets per node; Leymus has just 1-2 spikelets per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Elymus is perennial with robust growth; Taeniatherum is a weedy annual with very long awns.; vs Lolium: Elymus shows multiple spikelets per node; Lolium has single spikelets edgewise to the stem.; vs Thinopyrum: Elymus has prominent auricles; Thinopyrum typically lacks auricles or has very small ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens native to California?
Yes. Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens bloom?
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens grow?
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens occurs in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens belong to?
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens grow in?
Elymus glaucus subsp. virescens grows in Conifer forest, chaparral, rocky soils, riverbanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.