# bottlebrush grass (*Elymus hystrix*)

Bottlebrush grass is a tall, fluffy grass that looks like a bottlebrush! It grows in clumps and is great for helping animals find shelter. It sways gently in the wind, making it fun to watch.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 5
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![bottlebrush grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Elymus_hystrix_inflorescences_001.JPG&width=800)

Photo: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elymus_hystrix_inflorescences_001.JPG)

## Appearance

The bottlebrush grass has distinctive bristly seed heads that resemble an old-fashioned bottle brush, featuring long, stiff awns. Its slender, flat green leaves form dense clumps, and the upright stems turn a straw-yellow colour in late summer.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Elymus

## Interesting facts

- Despite its spiky look, it offers great shelter for small insects and animals.
- Its seeds were traditionally ground into flour by Native American tribes.
- The 'bottlebrush' part isn't a flower, but a group of developing seeds!
- This grass can grow taller than many kids, reaching up to 5 feet!

## Special abilities

- **Soil Defender:** Bottlebrush grass has a strong, fibrous root system that grips the soil tightly, helping to prevent erosion from wind and rain.
- **Thirsty Survivor:** Bottlebrush grass can thrive in drier conditions thanks to its efficient water use, allowing it to grow where other plants struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-25 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — Feeds on its nutritious seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [Deer mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Small mammals gather and eat its seeds.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful not to pull the grass out of the ground; it needs to stay there to grow!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify bottlebrush grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is bottlebrush grass?

60-150 cm

### How wide does bottlebrush grass spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on bottlebrush grass?

10-25 cm

### When does bottlebrush grass bloom?

Summer

### Is bottlebrush grass edible?

Yes

### Is bottlebrush grass toxic?

None

### What is bottlebrush grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District
- [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site
- [MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/macdougal-sullivan-gardens-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District
- [Chenango County Courthouse District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-county-courthouse-district) — New York, US · Historic District
- [Green Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park
- [Kitchell Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kitchell-park) — Illinois, US · Park

[View all places to see bottlebrush grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bottlebrush-grass)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Bottlebrush Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bottlebrush-grass)