Plant Type

Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Gold, Green

 

Flower Season

Summer, Fall

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium, High

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Water Garden, Wetlands, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Silhouette

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Hedge, Mass Planting, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

A beautiful ornamental grass known for it's showy, drooping seed heads and it's lush green foliage. Grass greens up mid spring, turns a lovely copper color in fall, eventually changing to brown during the winter. The seed heads look like flattened rattle snake rattles, and emerge green, turning to tawny brown in the summer. Very persistent into the winter months. Place in the garden where it will be back lit by the late day sun, where it will illuminate the seed heads. A lovely summer through winter silhouette. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.

Grow in full sun to filtered light. In our hot, dry summers, Northern sea oats appreciates a bit of extra water. Alternatively, grown in part shade and it will require less water. Grows in any soil , except the most sandy. Cut back in late winter (see Guides). It may self-seed; a benefit or annoyance, depending on your approach to gardening.