My Deer Garden

Is Lyme Grass deer resistant?

Leymus arenarius

Steel blue blades of lyme grass
Photo by Kristian Peters, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Rarely damaged

Deer almost always leave this alone.

Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271

Plant typeOrnamental grassHardinessZones 3–10LightFull sunMature height24–48 inBloomSummer
MaintenanceHigh, wants regular attention

About Lyme Grass

The bluest grass available, and a serious runner. Confine it to a container or a bed bounded by paving, or it will cross the garden.

Soil and care

Soil pH
6 to 8
Drainage
Sharp, gritty. Will rot in wet soil
Water
Low
Spacing
24 to 35 in apart
Growth rate
Fast
Maintenance
High

Similar to Lyme Grass

Other ornamental grasss with the same deer rating.

Where Lyme Grass grows

Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.

Browse from here

Every list Lyme Grass belongs to.

Hardy in these zones

Common questions about Lyme Grass

Is Lyme Grass deer resistant?
Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
What hardiness zones does Lyme Grass grow in?
Lyme Grass is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 10. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
Does Lyme Grass grow in shade?
No. Lyme Grass wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
How big does Lyme Grass get?
Mature height is roughly 24–48 in. Growth rate is fast.