Elymus pacificus
Pacific wild-rye
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus pacificus (Pacific wild-rye) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by distinctive low growth habit with leaves longer than inflorescence on coastal bluffs.
Pacific wild-rye is a California native perennial found in southern North Coast, Central Coast, and northern Channel Islands bioregions on coastal bluffs at elevations below 230 meters. Flowering from May to July, this grass produces pale green to green flowers in compact spikes 2 to 8 centimeters long. Growing with strongly rhizomatous stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall that are glabrous or sparsely hairy near the nodes, it spreads extensively through underground stems. Its leaf blades are 10 to 30 centimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide, often extending beyond the flower cluster with short, minimal auricles. The grass forms dense clumps with multiple stems emerging from a complex underground root system.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; distinctive low growth habit with leaves longer than inflorescence on coastal bluffs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 230 m
Bloom period
Elymus pacificus blooms May-Jul.
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 pacificus native to California?
Yes. Elymus pacificus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus pacificus bloom?
Elymus pacificus blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Elymus pacificus belong to?
Elymus pacificus is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus pacificus grow in?
Elymus pacificus grows in Coastal bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.