Of 240 seeds planted in a central Iowa demographic study, 134 germinated and 26 plants survivied to year 5; 27 flowered after an average of 1.6 years (Mabry in prep.).

Experimental seed addition in a small field study resulted in establishment in about 50% of plots after three years (Brudvig et al. 2011).

Transplants in a field study had 60% survival after 7 years; bottlebrush grass also self-sows (Mottl et al. 2006).

Produces few seeds per plant and does not spread vegetatively (Barkely 1986, Gleason and Cronquist 1991).