Elymus (hystrix)

John M. Englert USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road Beltsville, Maryland 20705 (301) 504-8175 (301) 504-8741 (fax) john.englert@wdc.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass Family
Scientific Name:	Elymus hystrix L.
Common Name:	Bottlebrush grass
Species Code:	ELYHYS
Ecotype:	Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Virginia, 1500' elevation; Skyline
General Distribution:	Elymus hystrix grows from Nova Scotia to Quebec and North Dakota, and south to Georgia and Arkansas; it is found in moist, rocky woods.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	Container plug
Time To Grow:	14 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Height: about 6-8" at outplanting after cutbacks. Root System: Filled plug; plug retains shape when pulled from container.
Propagule Collection:	Collected in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park by J. Englert; Shenandoah National Park by J. Englert on 8/21/92 and 8/16/93; George Washington Memorial Parkway by M. Kangas; National Capital Parks-East by S. Rudy; National Plant Materials Center by D. Dusty.
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Seed cleaned using 2-screen seed clipper. Germination: 75% (test) In the greenhouse: 36-38 plugs per gram of seed. Purity: 94%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: None needed, although seeds germinate more uniformly after a 2-3 week cold stratification. Germination occurs at moderate temperatures. Seeds do not germinate or grow well in the greenhouse in mid-summer heat.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Greenhouse; day/night temperature cycle (set at 75/78F); coolers and shade from direct sunlight during summer propagation. No extended day length. Container Type and Volume: Ropak Multipots. Growing Media: Germination mix over Sunshine #5 with 180 day Nutricote Total (18-6-8) slow-release fertilizer @ 0.15lb/cu ft mix. Good results have been seen with the addition of Compro to the mix (1 bale SU#5:2 bags Compro).
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: December/January for March-April planting; February for late spring; mid-July for fall field planting. Emergence and Date: If cold-stratified 2-3 weeks, (@45F, 35% humidity) first germination occurs in 6 days and about 90% of the seedlings emerge within 10 days of sowing. If unstratified, first germination occurs at around 10 days and extends irregularly over a 3-4 week period. Total germination remains the same. Sowing/Planting Technique: Hand sowing. Seed is lightly covered with germination mix. Plug trays receive a fungicide drench, are covered with clear lightweight plastic and placed in cooler for 2 weeks. Plastic may be left on fiats once on bench to conserve moisture until germination has occurred. Establishment Phase: Planting medium is kept moist during germination by hand-watering.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: Seedlings develop quickly after germination. They are cut back periodically to 4-6" to prevent lodging when watered, encourage root and stem growth and to manually eliminate insect pests. Plugs are fertilized as needed (approx. every 2 weeks) with Technigro 16-17-17 Plus, @75-100 ppm.
Hardening Phase:	Hardening Phase: Seedlings are not maintained throughout the year. Seedlings are hardened off by placing plug containers outside the greenhouse in a sheltered area for 2 weeks prior to outplanting, while discontinuing fertilizer and reducing water.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Plugs are generally ready for outplanting 14 weeks after they germinate. Storage Conditions: N/A.
Length of Storage:	<b>Storage Duration:</b> N/A.
Other Comments:	Although plugs can be started during the summer for fall field planting, seedling germination, growth rate and vigor are often much lower than if started in winter for spring planting.
References:	Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Hitchcock, 2nd edition, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950. Manual of Vascular Plants, Gleason and Cronquist, D. Van Nostrand Co., 1963.

Citation:

Kujawski, Jennifer L.; Davis, Kathy M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Elymus hystrix L. plants Container plug; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.