Canyon Prince Wild Rye is an excellent grass for a shady spot in your yard. It’s light blue foliage lightens up dark spots wonderfully. It’s one of the ‘Chosen Few’ that works well under Oak Trees. In literature it’s advertised as a great ‘dry shade’ plant, but in my yard I use it in in all sorts of places where it shouldn’t! I have it on greywater, getting moisture every seven days and staying pretty much moist all the time. All it did was get larger and a bit floppy; nothing a good prune back won’t fix! I have it installed up the street from me in full sun on a west facing front yard— all it did was stay more upright and push out a bunch of seedheads for the birds!

The one place not to plant this plant is in pedestrian areas— it’s leaves are loaded with silica and can give a a bit of papercut when they’re brushed up against. It’s not the worst, but it’s just a bit more ‘pokey’ than I would want it to be, particularly in high use spaces. Use it as a background plant. Needs to be pruned back hard every few years, particularly if grown with more moisture to prevent it from getting floppy. Prune in late fall since this is a cool season grower. Can be shovel pruned to prevent rhizomatous spread.