Major Land Resource Area: 5a-7a (Cold Hardiness Zone)

Origin: ‘Schwendimar’ thickspike wheatgrass, Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus, is a cultivar developed from a seed collection made on wind blown sands along the banks of the Columbia River east of The Dalles, Oregon by the late John Schwendiman in 1934.

Description: Rhizomatous, cool season, perennial grass. Foliage and culms are bluish and glaucus with only partial pubescence on the lemma. Spikes are long and compact with alternating spikelets on the rachis. Roots are fibrous, dense and shallow with a few that extend beyond two feet (0.6m). Similar in appearance to slender wheatgrass and western wheatgrass. It is outcrossed and its’ chromosome number is 2n=28.

Growing Conditions: Eight to twenty inches of mean annual precipitation (10-50cm). Medium to coarse textured soils which are neither strongly alkaline or acidic. Its’ elevation range is 250-5000 feet (75-1500m). ‘Schwendimar’ has survived and grown well under dryland conditions at Pullman, Lind, Central Ferry, and Mattawa Washington. Cold Hardiness Zone: 5a-7a

Other Characteristics: ‘Schwendimar’ seed germinates in cool soils and develops rapidly. Rhizome growth may not occur the first growing season. If flowers in June and goes dormant with the onset of summer drought. Little regrowth occurs in the fall with the increased precipitation. Growth resumes early in spring and rhizome development increases.

Propagation: ‘Schwendimar’ is propagated from seed. Late fall seeding has been very successful in establishing stands in the in the semiarid regions of Washington. Seeding depth is critical and should not exceed ¾ inch (2cm). Seedlings emerge in the spring and must be protected from weed competition.

Conservation and Landscape Uses: ‘Schwendimar’ is recommended primarily for quick stabilization of coarse textured soils in droughty areas. Secondary uses include pasture grazing following maturation of downy brome and crested wheatgrass and wildlife habitat.