Crested Wheatgrass

Crested wheatgrass is a cool-season perennial bunchgrass used for dryland cover, erosion control, and forage. It begins growing early in spring and produces flattened, comb-like seed heads in late spring; it may resume green growth in fall when moisture returns. ## Form and landscape use This introduced Eurasian grass has upright stems and a dense, compact seed head. Its bunching form is useful for dryland pasture, broad groundcover, and stabilizing disturbed soil. Birds and small mammals use its seed and cover, though a large single-species stand provides less diverse habitat than a mixed or native planting. The [USDA NRCS plant guide](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/idpmcpg14114.pdf) distinguishes shorter, finer-leaved Fairway-type grass from taller standard types; the catalog record does not identify a named cultivar. ## Growing conditions Full sun and well-drained loamy soil suit this grass. It is adapted to dryland climates, typically where annual precipitation is about 8–14 inches; fairway types are generally recommended where precipitation averages at least 10 inches. Water newly seeded areas while they establish. Once established in an adapted site, it can tolerate drought with little or no irrigation. [USU Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/grasses-and-grasslikes/crested-wheatgrass) describes plants about 1½–2½ feet tall, while USDA NRCS gives a broader 12–36-inch range and notes Fairway types are shorter. ## Regional context Crested wheatgrass has been widely planted in western North America for forage and reclamation, and its persistent stands can spread by seed and dominate native plantings. Choose it for a defined dryland or pasture purpose; avoid adding it casually to diverse native restoration mixes. ## Maintenance Crested wheatgrass needs little routine care after establishment. Keep weeds under control while seedlings establish. Where it is grazed, defer grazing until stands are established and leave several inches of stubble at the end of the season. In landscape groundcover, mow or remove unwanted seedlings if they move beyond the intended area.