Northern Sea Oats has oat-like panicles of green flowers bloom above arching leaf blades.
Northern Sea Oats is easy to grow and performs best in fertile soils in light shade.
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Northern Sea Oats has oat-like panicles of green flowers bloom above arching leaf blades.
Northern Sea Oats is easy to grow and performs best in fertile soils in light shade.
All media depicts mature plants.

Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium)

Perennial

  • Bronze and gold seedheads add interest in fall and winter!
  • Host plant for butterflies and food source for birds.
  • Textural interest for woodland gardens.
  • Zones 4-9, shade to sun, 3-4' tall and 1-2' wide at maturity.
  • ZONE
  • EXPOSURE
  • HEIGHT

More info on plant sizes

Size: One Quart
$23.00
$23.00
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Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
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Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee

Description

Some plants are grown for their flowers, others for their foliage, but Northern Sea Oats ( Chasmanthium latifolium ) is loved for its bobbing seedheads that form in early fall. Oat-like panicles of green flowers bloom above arching leaf blades before maturing into bronze and golden seedheads. When left on the plant, they continue to add interest well through winter and are frequently visited by birds. As a native woodland grass, Northern Sea Oats is easy to grow and performs best in fertile soils in light shade. However, it's adaptable enough to handle full sun in cooler zones. It's drought tolerant, deer resistant, and low maintenance - but be careful! It will seed prolifically if not cut back, so try planting it in a naturalized woodland area where it can thrive.

Details

Botanical name: Chasmanthium latifolium
Common name: Northern sea oats, inland sea oats, indian wood oats, river oats
Zone: 4-9
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun), part sun (4-6 hours sun), sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 3-4' x 1-2'
Flower color: Green
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year round when left standing
Bloom time: Late summer
Features: Winter interest, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, deer resistant, best for beginners, rare & unusual
Uses: Pollinator garden, mass planting, woodland garden, cut flower garden, border, naturalizing

How to Grow

Soil: Plants thrive in fertile soils with average moisture, but can handle some dry shade.
Light: Grows best in part-sun, but can withstand sun or shade.
Water: Likes even moisture, so water regularly.
Spacing: 12-18"
Fertilizing: Generally, not required. In poor soils, a light application of slow-release fertilizer can be applied.
Winterizing: No care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Trim foliage to the ground in early spring.

12 Low-Maintenance Ornamental Grasses For Sun or Shade

Ornamental grasses are a staple in most low-maintenance gardens because they are hardy, durable, and add beautiful color, texture, and movement to the landscape. During the winter, ornamental grasses continue to add interest, inviting birds with exposed seed heads while the dried flowers and foliage rustle in the winter winds. Here, we’ll list our favorite low-maintenance ornamental grasses for sun or shade.

Learn more

Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:

bush distance

Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:

bush distance zigzag

Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.

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