Leymus arenarius - Lyme Grass seeds

Leymus arenarius is also called Blue Wheat, Sea Rye or Lyme Grass. This magnificent grass forms spreading, opulent clumps of grey-blue ribbon-like leaves. Its summer inflorescences in upright spikes start silver-blue, then turn golden when ripe. It is a fully hardy coastal species, whose vigorous rootstock colonises the soil. It is perfectly adapted to sandy and salty soils. It is superb in borders and spectacular when planted as edging or in large pots on the terrace. When sown in ordinary but light and well-drained soil, it will flower in the second year.

Leymus arenarius is a plant of the Poaceae flamily. It mainly grows in Asia, North America, and Central Europe, in boreal climates. This perennial grass reaches 1.50m (5ft) high when flowering and forms large clumps of foliage, about 60 cm (24in) in all directions. Its crown is vigorous and creeping. Its robust stems are stiff, upright and arched. It has glaucous, ribbon-like leaves, about one centimetre wide, flat, smooth, and rolled at the tip. The inflorescences appear from June to August and remain on the plant until December. The robust and compact spikes are fifteen to thirty centimetres long. They have a silver-blue hue before turning blonde when ripe.

Blue Wheat is an ideal plant for the seaside, especially for stabilising sand dunes. It is also ornamental in borders or as edging, or dressing up the terrace or patio in large flower pots. This plant has a very vigorous trailing rootstock. To keep it under control it may be better to plant it in a container. It can also be cut short to create a kind of ground cover similar to a lawn. Grasses bring movement and natural beauty to the garden. This grass is a charming asset for late summer and autumn, where its dried inflorescences remain major focal points. In borders, complement Sea Rye with asters, rudbeckias, or tall sedums.

This species is frequently targeted by the Ustilago Hypodytes fungus, also called Stem Smut. No spike forms and large black mushrooms appear.