Rice Grass

Achnatherum hymenoides

Rice Grass (also known as Indian Rice Grass) is a showy, playful, Great Basin grass that is an important food source for bison, bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, pronghorns, and jackrabbits, while birds and rodents consume the seeds. Rice grass begins to green earlier in the year than other grasses, and in the wild is often a victim of overgrazing by cattle. The seeds of this grass were and are commonly used by Native peoples to grind into flour and is a good gluten-free alternative. It is the state grass of Utah and Nevada.

Soil: well-draining, low-nutrient
Sun: full
Water: very low to moderate