Agropyron cristatum is a perennial plant, meaning that it has a long life span. This plant is resistant against drought, cold, heavy grazing, and fire. Therefore it thrives during the cool, dry seasons where growth begins in the early spring and blooming in the late spring. Agropyron cristatum is a non-native, invasive species that was introduced from Russia’s steppe ecosystem into the United States in the 1930s. Therefore, A. cristatum has adapted to Utah’s elevation ranges between 4000-8000 feet, where soils can receive precipitation of at least 8 inches annually. Its diverse distribution allows it to have many varieties. From the table in the link (varieties) the different varieties of A. cristatum possess extremely similar characteristics. The figure below demonstrates A. cristatum wide distribution across North America. Also from the ‘varieties’ link is a figure demonstrating that it is mainly concentrated in the Intermountain West region.

Agropyron cristatum is often utilized by wildlife because it can be used as food for livestock such as cattle. The table below depicts the certain level of A. cristatum used as food for specific wildlife animals.

               Alberta  Montana    Idaho       Oregon   Utah

Cattle         ----     high       high        high     high

Domestic sheep high     ----       ----        ----     high

Elk            high     spring use spring use  ----     spring use

Mule Deer      low-none low        medium      medium   low-none

Bighorn sheep  high     medium     ----        ----     ----

Pronghorn      ----     low-none   low         low-none low-none

Moose          medium   ----       ----        ----     ----

Small mammals  -----    ----       low-none    ----     ----

Agropyron cristatum comprises of multiple characteristics, but its most valuable it its ability to revegetate areas that have been burned and/or degraded. The reason for this valuable ability is due to A. cristatum’s ease of establishment and its productivity low belowground, which results in “higher soil bulk densities, less organic material in the soil, and poorer nutrient relations in crested wheatgrass than in native grass habitats (www.fs.fed.us).” A. cristatum also aids in erosion control by being spaced widely in rows in order to increase the production of plants. The spaces produced allow increased vulnerability to erosion.