This is a sod-forming rhizomatous perennial grass which is native and common throughout most of North America.

It is a valuable forage for animals such as bison and black-tailed prairie dogs, and it is good for grazing livestock.

[1] It is used for revegetation of disturbed and overgrazed habitat, and many cultivars have been developed to suit various conditions,[1] including low-maintenance lawns.

Pascopyrum smithii has been genetically modified with bacterial genes to degrade RDX and detoxify TNT, explosives commonly found on military ranges.

This marks the first successful transformation of this species for sustainable cleanup of explosive residues.