Western wheatgrass is a cool season, sod forming perennial with very strong rhizomes (stem).

• Spikes are one to six inches long with usually six to ten stiff florets (small flower) on one spike (unbranched, elongated inflorescence with sessile flowers maturing from bottom upwards).
• Identifying characteristic is the clasping auricles (small, ear shaped lobe at the base of the leaf, encircling the stem) are often purple.
• Alkali soil tolerant and grows in soils ranging from clays to sands.
• Used as a hay crop during high precipitation years and a nutritious and palatable crop the remainder of the year.
• Small mammals such as jackrabbits and cottontails feed on its seeds as well.
• Although, grazing abuse can decrease its abundance, it is used by elk, antelope, deer, resting communities for grouse, pheasants and songbirds.

legislature adopted on February 18, 1970, western wheat- grass as the state grass of South Dakota, the first state to adopt a wheatgrass.

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 9/5/08

Plants that grow naturally on this short grass prairie are called "native" plants. The Refuge has four major groups.

• Grasses
• Wildflowers
• Shrubs
• Trees

Vegetation on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a mixture of different grasses, shrubs. semi-shrubs, forbes and wildflowers.

Several species of prairie grass grow on the Refuge but the most common are the perennial BLUE GRAMA and WESTERN WHEAT GRASS.

Learn more about prairie grasses at
FRONT RANGE LIVING.