Robert H. Mohlenbrock,
USDA SCS, 1989
W.L. Wagner
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University
Canadian Wild Rye prefers mesic environments and can often be found next to rivers and lakes as well as ditches, prairies, and disturbed sites. Canadian Wild Rye is often found next to roads throughout rural areas. It prefers low land prairies where it grows abundant but Canadian Wild Rye can grow in small stands in open upland prairies if the area receives adequate sunlight. It can grow in a variety of soils ranging from sandy or silty to gravely or clay.
Canadian Wild Rye can grow up to five feet tall with many flat broad leafs reaching twelve inches in length. Its root system is made up of many fine roots that branch out from the plant near the top of the soil. The majority of growth and development occurs between late April and mid July. Flowers appear around late July and seeds mature in August. Long awns on the seeds suggest dispersal by animals.
Canadian Wild Rye has many uses. Native Americans used it as a food source. They would gather the mature seeds and grind them into flour to make bread. Today, people use this plant for erosion control. Seeds are planted in disturbed sites such as land slide areas or river banks and stands are usually established within one or two years. It is also used as forage for livestock. While young, Canadian Wild Rye has a fair amount of protein which is favorable for grazing. However, once seed stalks start to develop, protein content diminishes and it becomes less desirable for feed. Canadian Wild Rye is used by small mammals, birds, and waterfowl for shelter, protection, and habitat.
This plant is a very hardy plant that can thrive in a variety of environments. In very dry climates, Canadian Wild Rye can go dormant during periods of drought and continue growth and reproduction when water is available again in the fall. In Utah, this plant is often found in saline marshes where in the spring it quickly grows and becomes established before the marshes dry up.