Crested Wheatgrass: A Hardy Non-Native Grass for Challenging Sites
If you’re looking for a tough, drought-tolerant grass that can handle difficult growing conditions, you might have come across crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum cristatum). This perennial graminoid has made itself at home in parts of the American West, but before you add it to your garden, let’s explore what makes this grass tick and whether it’s the right choice for your landscape.
What Is Crested Wheatgrass?
Crested wheatgrass is a non-native perennial grass that originally hails from Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite its foreign origins, this hardy grass has established itself as a naturalized species in parts of the United States, reproducing on its own without human intervention. It’s part of the graminoid family, which includes grasses, sedges, rushes, and other grass-like plants.
Where You’ll Find It Growing
In the United States, crested wheatgrass has found suitable habitat in Colorado and New Mexico, where it has adapted to the local climate conditions and established self-sustaining populations.
The Look and Feel
This grass forms attractive dense tufts with blue-green foliage that can add texture and movement to your landscape. Its most distinctive feature is the crested seed heads that give the plant its common name – these spiky, wheat-like heads appear in late spring to early summer and add visual interest to the garden.
Growing Conditions and Care
One of crested wheatgrass’s biggest selling points is its incredible toughness. Here’s what this resilient grass needs to thrive:
- Sunlight: Full sun exposure
- Soil: Well-draining soils; tolerates poor, rocky, or sandy conditions
- Water: Extremely drought tolerant once established
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Maintenance: Very low maintenance once established
Planting and Establishment
Crested wheatgrass is typically grown from seed and is quite easy to establish. It germinates readily and can spread naturally through self-seeding. This makes it particularly useful for erosion control projects or large naturalized areas where you want low-maintenance coverage.
Role in Your Garden
This grass works well in:
- Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscapes
- Erosion control on slopes
- Naturalized or meadow-style gardens
- Low-maintenance groundcover areas
- Restoration projects in challenging conditions
Wildlife and Pollinator Value
As a wind-pollinated grass, crested wheatgrass offers limited benefits to pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its wildlife value is primarily as a food source for grazing animals and seed-eating birds.
Should You Plant It?
While crested wheatgrass can be a practical choice for challenging sites where few other plants will grow, it’s worth considering native alternatives first. Native grasses have evolved alongside local wildlife and pollinators, providing better ecological benefits for your region.
Some excellent native grass alternatives to consider include buffalo grass, blue grama, or regional native bunch grasses that offer similar drought tolerance while supporting local ecosystems. Check with your local native plant society or extension office for the best native options in your area.
The Bottom Line
Crested wheatgrass can be a useful plant for specific situations – particularly where extreme drought tolerance and low maintenance are priorities. However, as gardeners increasingly focus on supporting native ecosystems, exploring native grass alternatives first is usually the best approach. If you do choose to plant crested wheatgrass, monitor it to ensure it doesn’t spread beyond your intended planting area.
