© 2004 Wendy Dager

Leymus triticoides the best plant for your bioswale

The last issue of the Leaf-let explained the benefits of bioswales, or Grass Swale Filters (GSWF). These densely vegetated drainageways with gentle side slopes collect and slowly convey runoff flow downstream. Bioswales are the green approach to effectively address stormwater runoff.

In this edition of the Leaf-let, we recommend plants that are appropriate for use in a bioswale or GSWF.

"For landscape architects and others responsible for planning a job site, it’s helpful to think of the grass in bioswales as what nature intended," said S&S Seeds’ Paul Albright. "What grows in a planned bioswale is similarly growing in natural sites in California."

According to Paul, during the dry summer and early fall season, you can easily spot the Golden State’s natural bioswales because they are the only sites with grass that is still green. Landscapers assigned the task of planning and creating a bioswale can mimic nature with guidance from S&S Seeds.

Famous Leymus

"The grass that works well in most of Northern California and coastal Southern California is Leymus triticoides," said Paul.

Leymus triticoides, which was once called Elymus triticoides, is also known by its common names, Creeping wildrye or Beardless wildrye. It is a cool season, long-lived perennial and loose sodformer with an extensive root system. It is adapted to a wide variety of subirrigated soils and is extremely saline and alkalai tolerant. Seeds are generally sterile, as the plant reproduces by underground runners, which bind the soil into strong turf.

In fact, says Paul Albright, mowing the Creeping wildrye will change its morphology—its form and structure—so that it resembles turf grass.

There are three cultivars of Leymus triticoides that are easy to grow from seed. These cultivars are native to the United States at low to medium elevations in Montana, Washington, Texas and California, and are known by the locations at which they were developed: Yolo, Rio and Shoshone.

Yolo Creeping wildrye was found to be a successful planting configuration during a 1999-2000 levee revegetation and bank stabilization program along the Sacramento River in Yolo County, California.

According to the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (http://www.yolorcd.org), the program demonstrated that the establishment of "native grasses, rushes, and sedges on levee banks and drainage ditches is a viable alternative to the traditional management of these areas."

"Mowing the Creeping wildrye will change its morphology so that it resembles turf grass." Paul Albright

The success of this program and the resilience of the Creeping wildrye are among the reasons S&S Seeds recommends its use in bioswales. However, just two of the three cultivars are suitable for California.

"S&S customers should be aware that only the Yolo and Rio are adapted to California’s Mediterranean climate," said Paul.

Rio, which is native to Rio Grande, California, is, like Yolo, a cool-season grass with superior seed viability and vigorous rhizomes.

The Shoshone cultivar, which originated in Montana, is better suited for the summer rain and winter dormancy of the Midwestern United States, and should not be planted in California bioswales.

Wildrye to Saltgrass

Leymus triticoides is low growing and mat forming (rhizomatous), with blue-green leaves, and it thrives along creeks and seasonally wet soil. It’s often used for soil stabilization on channels, streams and river slopes, as well as restoration of mine lands, roads, ranges and riparian areas.

Riparian locations are those that are situated on the banks of a river, lake or pond.

Creeping wildrye is suited for washes and riparian areas, as are many of the plants you can find on S&S Seeds’ searchable database at http://www.ssseeds.com/database/index.html.

Creeping wildrye is found in washes and riparian areas.

"S&S customers can check out the database and see statistics for a variety of plants that are suitable for use in bioswales and Grass Swale Filters," said Paul.

For inland sites, Paul recommends Distichlis spicata, also known as saltgrass. Like the Creeping wildrye, the ability of saltgrass to produce rhizomes enables it to spread in many soil types. (See The Best of The Leaf-let, "Owens Lake: From Hazard to Habitat," http://www.albrightseed.com/owenslake.htm.)

"S&S Seeds’ customers can call us at (805) 684-0436 regarding bioswales or any other job site needs," said Paul. "We’re glad to be of assistance."

Pacific Vista Dwarf Tall Fescue Blend Highest Heat and Drought Tolerance Available Fine Texture Dark Green Year Round Good Cold Tolerance Improved Disease Resistance Good Wear Ability         Call S&S Seeds at (805) 684-0436.

Albright Seed is a Division of S&S Seeds.

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