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  habitatmatters.org

Blue lyme grass (Leymus arenarius)
  • See MISIN species profile
  • Introduced to North America from Europe as an ornamental.

What problems does lyme grass cause?
Like other invasive plants on the top 12 for northwest Michigan, lyme grass out-competes native plants and provides little food or other habitat for wildlife. When Lake Michigan water levels drop over time it allows lyme grass to invade beaches, dunes and other sites with sandy soils. The stabilization from the roots eliminate the natural  sand shifting which is needed for the rare Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri).

What does lyme grass look like?
The leaves and stems of lyme grass are blue-glaucous; the stems are hairless or nearly so at the summit and the leaves are 6-15mm wide with crowded sheaths at the base. Flowers are arranges in a spike with 4-6 spikelets usually paired at the nodes.

How do I manage lyme grass?
​Monitor beaches and dunes, especially where it has been used adjacent in landscaping. It can sprout from rhizomes and root fragments, so mechanical methods of removal are not recommended.  Lyme grass may be treated with herbicide in spring while native species are dormant; be sure to follow up to ensure no further treatment is needed. 
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Photo by: Kristian Peters
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Contact US

231-252-4148
3334 Veterans Drive Unit A
Traverse City, Michigan 49685
Pleasant Peninsula Design, Habitat Matters 2025
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • About ISN & FAQs
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • ISN Board of Directors
    • Employment
    • Enewsletter
    • Blog - Notes from ISN
  • Events
  • ID & Report
    • Top 12 Species
    • Early Detection Species
    • Awareness Species
    • Other Invasive Species >
      • Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
      • Aquatic Invasive Species
      • Lymantria Moths (spongy moth)
    • ID and Reporting Tools
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Education
    • Tool Library
    • Garlic Mustard Dumpsters
    • Planting Guide/Ordinance Templates
    • Requests For Bids
    • Treatment Information
    • Other Information
    • Invasive Species in the News >
      • ISN in the News
  • Go Beyond Beauty
    • Find Participants >
      • Nurseries/Garden Centers >
        • Bioconcentric Farms
        • Birdsfoot Native Nursery
        • Black Cap Farms
        • Bright Lane Gardens
        • Four Season Nursery
        • Garden Goods
        • Greystone Gardens
        • Pine Hill
      • Landscapers/Professionals >
        • Cre Woodard
        • Designs in Bloom
        • Greener Earth Landscaping
        • Heritage Landscape Design
        • Inhabitect, LLC
        • Lakeview Habitats
        • Laurel Voran, LLC
        • The Mossy Tree, LLC
        • Old Mission Associates
        • Inner-Coastal
        • Pine Hill
        • Silverman & Company
        • Sustainable Landscape Design, LLC
        • TruNorth Landscaping
        • Wildlife & Wetland Solutions
      • Community Participants
    • GBB Achievement Program
    • Register >
      • Registration Form (Garden Professional)
      • Registration Form (Individual or other org)
      • Start-up Materials
    • Ornamental Invasive Species
    • Native Plant Species
    • Participant Signs
    • Japanese Barberry Trade-Up Day
    • GBB Resources
  • Donate to ISN
  • Merchandise