Plant Database
Lagunita Creeping Wild Rye
Leymus triticoides ‘Lagunita’
Leymus triticoides 'Lagunita' is a superior, low-growing selection of California's native creeping wild rye, prized for its rich green, upright foliage and exceptional adaptability. Discovered by meadow expert John Greenlee on a ranch near Santa Cruz, this evergreen, rhizomatous grass forms a dense, colony-forming mat of narrow, bright green blades that stay lush and upright long into summer, unlike many native grasses that go dormant and turn brown . It rarely produces the narrow, unbranched flower spikes of the species, and when it does, it does not appear to set viable seed, keeping the planting uniform and tidy . Tolerant of both wet and dry conditions, a wide range of soils (including sand and clay), and salt spray, it is an outstanding choice for meadow lawns, erosion control on slopes, rain gardens, bioswales, and as a no-mow lawn substitute in water-wise and coastal landscapes.