Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Blue Oat Grass
- Family
- Poaceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- Greenish to tan
- Foliage color
- Blue-gray
- Bloom time
- Mid-summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Low to moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Provides cover for small wildlife and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
About this plant
Helictotrichon sempervirens, or Blue Oat Grass, is a perennial grass known for its silvery-blue foliage and elegant form. Its narrow, arching leaves create a dense, fountain-like clump, adding cool texture to garden landscapes. The fine-textured blades maintain their ornamental value throughout the growing season, making it a popular choice for adding contrast in garden beds, borders, and containers.
In mid to late summer, Blue Oat Grass produces airy flower spikes that rise above the foliage. These delicate panicles start pale green and mature to a soft, straw color, enhancing the plant's refined appearance. Its combination of soothing color and graceful form makes it an ideal addition to a variety of garden settings.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
