Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
A graceful native grass prized for its distinctive flat, oat-like seed heads that rustle beautifully in the wind. Excellent for naturalizing and providing movement in the garden, this adaptable grass thrives in both sun and shade with stunning fall color.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Dry Rock Stream Garden Native Woodland Garden
Zones
5–9
USDA hardiness
Height
2-5 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Northern Sea Oats in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 grass →Zone Map
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Northern Sea Oats · Zones 5–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Dry Rock Stream Garden Native Woodland Garden, Durham. Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Moist, Occasionally Wet. Water: Dry Rock Stream Garden Native Woodland Garden, Durham. Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Seed heads are green to tan then purplish bronze from July to November.
Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan, Gray/Silver, Purple/Lavender. Type: Caryopsis.
Garden value: Long-lasting, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Central Canada, Central & E. U.S.A. to NE. Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Drought, Erosion, Salt, Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: This is a larval host plant for Northern Pearly-Eye (Lethe anthedon) caterpillars. You may see two broods from May-September in the south or one brood from June-August in the north. Highly resistant to deer. Also a larval host plant to several skipper butterflies. Small mammals and birds are attracted to the seeds.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Purple Coneflower
Attracts beneficial insects and provides structural contrast with similar moisture needs
Black-eyed Susan
Shares similar growing conditions and creates attractive naturalized plantings
Wild Bergamot
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while tolerating similar soil conditions
Little Bluestem
Compatible native grass that provides textural variety without competition
Coral Bells
Low-growing perennial that complements grass texture and shares shade tolerance
Astilbe
Thrives in similar moist, partially shaded conditions with complementary foliage
Wild Ginger
Excellent groundcover companion for shaded areas with similar moisture requirements
Sedums
Drought-tolerant succulents that provide season-long interest without competing for resources
Keep Apart
Tree of Heaven
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of native grasses and plants
Crown Vetch
Aggressive spreader that can outcompete and smother ornamental grasses
Autumn Olive
Creates dense shade and root competition that suppresses native grass growth
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent, native hardiness
Common Pests
Very few pest issues
Diseases
Highly disease resistant