Elymus hystrix – Bottlebrush Grass

A grass for the woodland garden where it will naturalize by self-sowing. It prefers moist shady conditions but can handle dry shade as well. The attractive, bottlebrush-like inflorescences appear first in midsummer then sporadically throughout the growing season, particularly after rains. Caterpillars of the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly (Lethe anthedon) feed on this grass. Native from Maine to South Dakota south to New Mexico and Georgia, this grass occurs throughout most of New York State.