Chasmanthium latifolium (synonymous with Uniola latifolia)is known in different places by different common names. Those I've found include:
- northern sea oats,
- flat oats,
- river oats,
- seaside Oats,
- American seaside oats
- wild oats,
- broadleaf wood oats
- upland sea oats.
| A nice photo of leaf and seed spikelet; a map of the distribution in US ; a good line drawing and brief description. |
The one name shared by all these common names is "oats". Probably the most generally used name is "northern sea oats". While it does show good tolerance for salt spray, making it useful for seaside gardens, it originates in the rich, moist woodlands of eastern, central and southern US. It only bears a passing resemblance to cultivated oats (Avena sativa), since the inflorescence on northern sea oats looks like it's been ironed flat.
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Want to try Chasmanthium latifolium? The following online nurseries list it. Pick your favorite and give it a try this year. Companion Plants Online Kurt Bluemel, Inc H&H Botanicals Mailorder Natives Niche Gardens Plant Delights Southern Perennials & Herbs Specialty Plant Nursery Veronica's Garden Nursery |
This is a true grass; a member of the Graminea (syn. Poaceae) family; Of the five species of perennial grasses in the genus Chasmanthium, C. latifolium appears to be the only one cultivated in the garden.
So far, there are no varieties or cultivars of this plant. It's a loosely tufted, deciduous perennial with stout, slowly spreading rhizomes, growing up to four feet (1.2 m) tall in its native woodlands. In the garden, it will get two or three feet (60.96 - 1 m) tall.
The broad, rich green leaves somewhat resemble bamboo in the way they are attached to the stems and are decorative in their own right. Each blade can reach up to 8" (20 cm) long. Leaf color is better in shade. In full sun they will bleach to a light yellow-green. In hot climates, partial shade is best or they will sunburn. The leaves persist well into winter, turning coppery beige and then brown.
Sea oats really wants a deep, rich soil in partial shade with plenty of moisture, although it will grow in less ideal conditions. It will take full sun if it has constant moisture. The foliage tips may brown if the plants dry out completely.
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