Canadian Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis)

Family: Poaceae or Gramineae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Elymus canadensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a flour and used to make bread. Quite fiddly to use, the seed is small and difficult to separate. The seed was an important item of food for the Paiute Indians of south-western N. America. — It can be ground into a flour and used to make bread.; Quite fiddly to use, the seed is small and difficult to separate.; The seed was an important item of food for the Paiute Indians of south-western N.

Habitat & North American Range

Dry sandy gravelly or rocky soil. Thickets and open woods in limestone and sandy clay soils in Texas. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)