Squirreltail Grass: A Drought-Tough Native for Your Naturalistic Garden
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance native grass that can handle tough conditions while adding unique texture to your landscape, squirreltail grass (Elymus elymoides) might just be your new best friend. This hardy perennial grass gets its quirky common name from its distinctive bottlebrush-like seed heads that resemble, well, a squirrel’s fluffy tail!
What Makes Squirreltail Special?
Squirreltail is a true native success story, naturally occurring across much of western North America and extending into parts of the Great Plains. You’ll find this adaptable grass growing wild in states from Alberta and British Columbia down through Arizona, California, Colorado, and many others including Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, plus several Great Plains and even some eastern states.
This bunch grass typically reaches about 1.5 feet tall with fine-textured green foliage that forms attractive clumps. But the real show-stopper comes in mid-spring when it produces those characteristic seed heads with their long, bristly awns that catch the light and add movement to the garden.
Why Grow Squirreltail in Your Garden?
There are plenty of compelling reasons to consider adding squirreltail to your landscape:
- Drought Champion: With high drought tolerance and low moisture requirements (thriving with just 5-16 inches of annual precipitation), this grass is perfect for water-wise gardening
- Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires minimal care and has low fertility requirements
- Erosion Control: The deep root system (minimum 12 inches) makes it excellent for stabilizing slopes and preventing soil erosion
- Wildlife Value: Provides seeds for birds and small mammals, plus habitat structure for various wildlife species
- Naturalistic Appeal: Perfect for prairie gardens, xeriscapes, and naturalistic landscapes where you want that authentic wild look
Where Does Squirreltail Thrive?
This grass is remarkably adaptable to different soil conditions, thriving in both medium and fine-textured soils. It prefers full sun (shade intolerant) and handles a wide pH range from 6.0 to 8.4. The plant shows high tolerance for calcium carbonate but low tolerance for salinity.
Regarding moisture, squirreltail typically grows in upland areas rather than wetlands. Across most regions, it’s classified as Facultative Upland, meaning it usually occurs in non-wetland areas but can occasionally pop up in wetland edges. In the Great Plains, it’s strictly an upland plant.
Cold hardy to an impressive -43°F, this grass can handle harsh winters across USDA zones 3-9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.
Growing Squirreltail Successfully
The good news is that squirreltail is relatively easy to grow if you can provide the right conditions:
Starting from Seed
- Squirreltail is typically propagated by seed (about 192,000 seeds per pound!)
- No cold stratification required, making spring sowing straightforward
- Seeds have medium abundance and medium seedling vigor
- Expect slow initial spread but moderate growth rate once established
Site Preparation and Planting
- Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil
- Avoid low-lying wet areas or heavy clay that stays soggy
- The grass needs at least 90 frost-free days to complete its growing cycle
- Spring is the active growing period, with blooming in mid-spring
Long-term Care
- Minimal fertilization needed due to low fertility requirements
- Water deeply but infrequently once established
- This is a bunch grass with no vegetative spreading, so it stays where you plant it
- Fire tolerance is medium, making it suitable for areas with periodic prescribed burns
- Long lifespan means you can enjoy this grass for many years
Design Ideas and Landscape Uses
Squirreltail works beautifully in several garden styles:
- Prairie Gardens: Combine with other native grasses and wildflowers for authentic prairie restoration
- Xeriscaping: Perfect companion for drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials
- Naturalistic Landscapes: Use in drifts for a wild, unmanicured look
- Erosion Control: Plant on slopes or banks where you need soil stabilization
- Transitional Areas: Great for edges between cultivated and wild areas of your property
A Few Considerations
While squirreltail is generally well-behaved, keep in mind that it’s currently only available as field collections rather than commercial nursery stock, so sourcing seed might require some hunting. The grass also has no resprout ability if damaged, and the seed heads don’t persist long after ripening.
The fine texture and erect growth habit make it less suitable for high-traffic areas, but perfect for background plantings and naturalistic settings where you want authentic native character.
The Bottom Line
Squirreltail grass offers gardeners an opportunity to grow a truly native species that’s both beautiful and practical. Its exceptional drought tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and unique aesthetic appeal make it an excellent choice for sustainable landscaping. Whether you’re creating a prairie garden, need erosion control, or simply want to support native ecosystems, this charming grass with the funny name might be exactly what your landscape needs.
Just remember to be patient—like many native plants, squirreltail takes time to establish but rewards you with years of reliable performance once it settles in. Sometimes the best things really are worth waiting for!
