Home: Grassland: Dry Mixedgrass

The Dry Mixedgrass Vegetation

The name "Mixedgrass" refers to the predominance of both short and mid-height grasses in this Subregion. The most widespread are the mid-grasses such as Spear Grass, Western Wheat grass, June Grass and the short Blue Grama grass. Northern Wheat Grass and Western Porcupine Grass may also be found and are characteristic of moister sites within the Subregion.

The majority of Mixedgrass vegetation is a spear grass - Blue Grama community with Western Wheat Grass and Northern Wheat Grass also important in hummocky moraine areas. Fine-textured soils in glacial lake basins are characterized by the Northern Wheat Grass - June Grass community. Solonetzic soils are typically occupied by the western wheat grass - Blue Grama community.

The most widespread vegetation of sand dune areas is dominated by Spear Grass, Sand Grass, June Grass as well as a variety of low shrubs including Sagebrush, Silverberry, Western Snowberry and Prickly Rose.

Although much of the natural vegetation of the Dry Mixedgrass Subregion has been replaced by agricultural crops, extensive areas of native rangeland remain that are managed primarily for grazing by domestic livestock.

Information provided by and printed with the permission of Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas.

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