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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
grasses & sedges

Danthonia intermedia (timber oatgrass)

Category: 
grasses and sedges

  

Densely tufted perennial grass, 5-4 cm tall. Leaves mainly basal, hairy below with the ligule a long fringe of hairs. Inflorescence a dense panicle with few spikelets. Spikelets with two or more florets and glumes about as long as the spikelet. Lemmas hairy at base and edges, with a twisted awn (up to 1 cm long) originating from below their tip (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1998).

Scientific Name: 

Danthonia intermedia Vasey (D. cusickii [T.A. Williams] A.S. Hitchc., D. canadensis B.R. Baum & Findlay)

Family: 
Poaceae
English Name: 
timber oatgrass

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Sub-montane to sub-alpine, occurs in Asia and is transcontinental in North America. Ranges from boreal, to temperate and cool mesothermal climates. Common in grasslands, meadows, open forests and alpine meadows.

Soil Texture: 
n/a
Nutrients: 

Nitrogen poor soils.

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 
n/a
Moisture Regime: 

Moisture deficient sites. Very dry to moderately dry.

Shade Tolerance: 

Sun to light shade.

Successional Status: 

Sporadic successional in young-seral forests. Common climax species on dry rocky outcrops.

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 
n/a

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Meadow restoration.

Wildlife: 

Moderate forage for elk.

Landscaping: 

Use as an ornamental grass in meadows, borders and containers. Most effective in large groups (S. Bastin, personal communication).

First Nations: 
n/a
Other Uses: 
n/a

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

June to August.

Fruit Ripening Time: 

August to September.

Seed Collection Time: 
n/a
Crop Intervals: 
n/a
Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 
n/a
Seed Viability: 

Stores for up to five years.

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 
n/a
Seed Storage: 

Store dry at 1-7º C.

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

Sow seeds and cover lightly with fine soil. Good success with fall sowing at night temperatures of 4º C and day temperatures of 20º C. Sow in containers in spring with bottom heat (15º C) with air temperatures of 15-20º C. Germination rates of 90% in 20 days (S. Bastin, personal communication).

Vegetative Propagation

Good success with plant division in early spring and fall. Useful for increasing stock.

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Plant on well-drained sites and provide adequate moisture until established.

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.

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