Elymus lanceolatus

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Elymus lanceolatus, known commonly as thickspike wheatgrass or streamside wheatgrass, is a native North American grass found across much of Canada and the western and central United States. It has two subspecies: subsp. lanceolatus, which is widespread, and subsp. psammophilus, found in the Great Lakes region. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous grass that can reach about 1.3 meters tall. It forms a dense sod from a network of roots and rhizomes and has leaves up to 25 cm long and about 0.5 cm wide. In hot, dry weather the leaves can roll into a cylindrical shape. The inflorescence is a narrow spike up to 22 cm long, with each spikelet containing 2 to 11 flowers. It can hybridize with bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass.

This grass grows in semiarid areas that receive roughly 200–500 mm of rainfall each year. It is common and dominant in many habitats, including forests, woodlands, sagebrush and shrubsteppe, deserts, sandy shores and dunes, and a wide range of grasslands and prairies. It tolerates disturbance, can grow at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains or near the Great Lakes, and often appears in disturbed sites such as roadsides. It reproduces mainly by seed, but in sandy soils it can spread vegetatively via rhizomes. Seeds can persist in the soil for about 3–4 years. It is mycorrhizal, contributing to its hardiness and soil relationships.

Elymus lanceolatus is valued for restoration and erosion control because its thick sod and deep root system help stabilize soil and suppress weeds. It provides forage for wildlife and livestock, especially when young and succulent; spring grazing is common for elk, horses, and cattle. Humans do not typically eat this grass, though it has moderate protein levels—about 20% in spring, decreasing to around 4% as it matures—and digestible carbohydrates around 45% during growth. Several cultivars have been developed, including Bannock, Critana, Elbee, Schwendimar, Secar, and Sodar, which can enhance weed suppression in managed landscapes and disturbed sites such as pipelines or urban areas. Overall, thickspike wheatgrass is a durable, erosion-controlling, forage-producing grass well-suited for grassland restoration and rangeland rehabilitation.