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Key characteristics

Family: Poaceae
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Width: 1 to 2 feet
Flower color: Green, maturing to tan
Foliage color: Green, turning yellow in fall
Bloom time: Summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Low; remove seed heads to prevent self-sowing
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 9
Wildlife: Provides food and shelter for birds; deer resistant

Perennials

Chasmanthium latifolium

Northern Sea Oats Grass

Chasmanthium latifolium, commonly known as Northern Sea Oats, is a perennial grass native to North America, particularly thriving in moist woodlands and along stream banks. This ornamental grass has distinctive, nodding seed heads that resemble oats, which emerge in late summer. These seed heads start as pale green and mature to a rich bronze by fall, adding dynamic visual interest to gardens.

A unique feature of Northern Sea Oats is its bamboo-like foliage, which transitions from green to a golden hue in the autumn.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Drought-tolerant once established

Bloom time

Summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Bird Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)