Northern Sea Oats Grass

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This US Native Grass Will Add a Graceful Touch

Northern Sea Oats Grass is deciduous grass that spreads as it grows. Its green stems arch out from the center of the plant creates a graceful appearance.

It develops seed heads in late summer that cause the plant to droop and sways gracefully in the wind. The seed heads start as green but eventually turn tan. The foliage turns a gorgeous copper in the fall and brown in the winter and comes back in the spring.

This plant is native to the central and eastern parts of the US and grows in areas that have consistently moist or wet soils.

Landscaping Northern Sea Oats

Because of its graceful appearance, it’s often used in cottage gardens, flower bed borders, or along streams, ponds, or other areas that receive plenty of water. While this grass isn’t evergreen, it almost provides interest all year long, so it’s an excellent plant to consider adding to your landscape.

You can also choose to grow northern sea oats in containers for small garden spaces. It's a great option for patios or porches to add a touch of greenery and decor!

Northern Sea Oats Care

Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifoilum) is an easy-to-care-for ornamental grass that is tolerant of most soil types and loves moist conditions. It’s native to the US in hardiness zones 5-8, so you can be confident that the plant with thrive if you can provide it with everything it needs!

A single plant can grow up to 5 feet tall and 1.5 wide, but it spreads as it grows and can fill up an entire area if you let it. It looks beautiful when several plants cover an area because the seed heads will blow in the breeze.

Northern Sea Oats Grass prefers full sun or partial shade. The more shade it has, the more it can tolerate drier soil, but it should never be allowed to dry out completely. 

Northern Sea Oats Grass prefers moist soil, but it shouldn’t be allowed to sit in soggy soil for an extended period because it has its limits. They can be happy when planted next to water sources or in areas with plenty of rain, so save this plant for the wettest parts of your garden.

The key to Northern Sea Oats Grass surviving wet conditions is a well-draining soil. Frequent water is okay as long as excess water can drain out rather than sit stagnantly.

This grass will grow best in fertile soil that’s rich in organic matter. Apply compost throughout the growing season to keep it happy. Though fertile soil is best, this hardy plant can tolerate poor soils with little nutrients. It will certainly appreciate extra servings of compost when it’s available.

Sea Oats Pruning Requirements

To keep your grass lush, cut it down to the ground in early spring before new growth appears. This will encourage the plant to grow back fuller than it did the year before. You can also prune by dividing the grass clumps if the grass starts to take over an area.

You can allow the plants to grow as they please if you don’t want to prune them every year.

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