24-36” tall x 18-24” wide. This is a drought-tolerant plant and requires little care. Going insane here! Steel blue leaves. In poorly drained and moist soils, the plant is susceptible to crown rot. Blue Oat Grass, botanical name Helictotrichon sempervirens, is suited to USDA zones 4-9, with full sun. Plants form a well-behaved clump of bright silvery-blue leaves, with taller arching stems of flowers appearing in early summer. It reaches a height and spread of 2 ft. to 3 ft. Beige to light brown terminal panicles appear June through August. Try it with Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ and Siberian Iris for a pleasing variety of forms and colors. Required fields are marked *. Blue oat grass grows as an upright tuft or mound, reaching a height 2 to 3 feet when in flower. Use enter to activate. Adds texture and color for the entire growing season, can be planted in mass to naturalize or alone as an accent. Distinguishing traits. Size: To 4 feet tall. Its petite size and vibrant color makes it an excellent little accent plant in rock gardens and small beds. Buy It: Blue Oat Grass, ($12, Direct Gardening) Resembling Blue Fescue (Festuca Glauca) but significantly bigger, it is the best of the mid-sized blue-leaved grasses. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our trees. Be the first to review “Blue Oat Grass” Cancel reply. The flowers are around 4″ to 6″ inches tall and have delicate, pointed petals with thistle-like and spiky centers. The mound of blue leaves consists of spikelets of bluish-brown flowers perfect for adding elegance to the landscape. This is a cool season grass, so its most active growth occurs in spring and fall. Flower Head Size Medium Height 60-90 cm 23-35 inches Spread 60-75 cm 23-29 inches Foot Traffic None Growth Rate Medium . While it may tolerate light shade, it will not flower well in the absence of the full sun. The blue oat grass grows well in well-drained soil. Blue Avena Grass is a good choice for mountain homes up to 8,500 ft. and is also a great Xeriscape plant. Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah. It suits nearly any garden style, from cottage gardens to Zen and modern or contemporary. Saphirsprudel (Saphire Fountain) (Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Saphirsprudel'): This cultivar is more tolerant of heat and resistant to rust. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. It is also a less invasive option for the landscape as it doesn’t spread via stolons or rhizomes, like other perennial grass. This grass does not tolerate hot, humid summers and flowering may be reduced under those conditions. Most gardeners prefer mass plantings of the blue oat grass to increase the overall look of their gardens. Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) grows in neat, densely rounded clumps of metallic, silvery blue foliage.This reliable, attractive grass is often used in garden design and landscaping. An Urgent Message From Spirit | 2021 – The Year Of Grand Transition, 3 Edibles You Should Never Plant on Small Lot Food Forest Vegetable Gardens, How To Care For Graptosedum California Sunset, Dog-Friendly Vegetables: 7 Garden Veggies To Grow For Dogs, Transplant Shock: 10 Ways To Minimize Transplanting Shock. Popular in public landscapes and home gardens, this commonly used ornamental grass is grown … To prevent mold growth, remove the foil at least once a day until seeds sprout. Its petite size and vibrant color makes it an excellent little accent plant in rock gardens and small beds. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. It also has a tidy mounded habit and won't spread and take over your garden. Gardeners love the plants as it is also the recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. We did not plant it in a large pot, didn't think anything could grow like that in our weather and ended up pulling it out as it spread unchecked through the garden. An arching bamboo like look, has nice yellow foliage and grows best with filtered sun. Flowers are borne from the tips of the tapered leaves tipped with golden oat-like seed heads. It is an easy-care plant and makes the perfect fit as a container plant. Your email address will not be published. Stop by, email, or call. Average landscape size: Moderate growing; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide. Zones: 4-8. Learn more about Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses. Evergreen in warmer climates, this cool-season grass is semi-evergreen where winters are harsh. The plant also has multiple options of use: you may use it as a single accent plant; try it in a container, or grow it in masses. Print this Plant. Average Size at Maturity: Moderate growing; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide. Its long leaves typically grow up till 2′ to 3′ feet. Blue oat grass in 5b is a beautiful grass, but be warned it is HIGHLY invasive in good growing conditions.Would recommend planting in a large pot to control it's growth. This native American grass was once was the dominant grass across prairies and open woods throughout most of North America. The small fruit (caryopsis or grains) form in the oat-like clusters that held the flowers. Best blue color occurs when in dry soils. Zones: 4-9. The Blues is truly a classic in the landscape. It is non-spreading and will grow 2 - 3' tall and just as wide. Go to list of cultivars. Deer resistant. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Blue oat grass is spiky, spunky and blue — characteristics that invite comparisons to blue fescue. It is a hardy plant type and is capable of handling temperatures down to 0° degrees Fahrenheit (-18° C). And how do I get rid of them? Size. BLUE OAT GRASS Helictotrichon sempervirens. In most cases, the plant type will also resemble a porcupine-like clump. Its flowering period starts around late spring or early summer. Your email address will not be published. Topped by ethereal, wheat-colored flower stalks in summer that sway in the breeze, this ornamental grass adds colorful relief to landscapes. ‘Sapphire’ Blue Oat Grass is a standout cool-season ornamental grass. Name: Helictotrichon sempervirens. Special features: Dramatic Foliage Color , Easy Care , Improved Pest and Disease Resistance , Waterwise Foliage color: Blue-green At that time, it can be cut down to the ground if needed or simply trimmed to remove winter damage. Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) Another plant with a silvery-blue hue is the Blue Oat … The name helictotrichon sempervirens comes from the Greek words helictos which means twisted and trichos which means a hair for the awn’s twisted base. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. It's hardy to -25 degrees F. Cut back in April to encourage vigorous new growth. Special Features & Videos on Blue Oat Grass. In late winter, cut back the old foliage of the clump-forming grass to 3″-4″ before new growth begins to emerge. Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass) - A cool season evergreen clump-forming grass that grows to 2 feet tall by up to 3 feet wide with blue-gray leaves radiating out like a bristly porcupine. Water newly planted clumps of blue oat grass every week or so for the first growing season to encourage a … Well-behaved and highly charming, Blue Oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) is a showy ornamental grass that grows in attractive, round clumps of gracefully arching narrow steel blue leaves. Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' or Japanese blood grass is a colorful red, yellow, … Growing just one foot high and as wide, blue fescue loves sun or part shade, and is evergreen in most areas, making it … Its identifiable feature is the blue foliage that measures 0.6 cm in width and 50-60 cm in length. Helictotrichon sempervirens is a cool-season, showy ornamental grass and grows in the full sun. 1 Gallon, 2 Gallon, 3 Gallon, 5 Gallon. It's a cool season ornamental grass that provides interest all year long in the landscape. Probably the best blue-leaved grass for average garden conditions. Throughout the fall, the blue oat grass maintains vibrant light brown flower color. Special Plant Features & Tips. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. Blue Oat Grass: USDA Zone: 3-9: Plant number: 8.200.100. Hardy to … The following menu has 3 levels. Tiny, blue-white flowers first begin to appear on seed heads of one-sided panicles in an oat-like cluster. And while other plants may lose their beauty when they flop over, the grass is liked for its clump-forming as it makes the garden appear more vibrant. They provide the foundation for the ornamental 4' tall flower spikes that shoot up and ripen to a soft brown by midsummer. Blue oat grass maintains its attractive light brown fall color through the winter. The fall color gives a spectacular and eye-catching look to the plant. Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, supplies the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass. Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, supplies the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass. As such, the plant doesn’t require regular fertilization. Building the urban forest for 2050. Helictotrichon sempervirens generally is known by the common name – Blue oat grass. Difference Between Blue Oat Grass and Blue Fescue. This plant is great in mass plantings along borders. They remain blue all year. The stiff gray-blue leaves are very striking. Provides a beautiful backdrop during the winter months. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Plant 24” apart Tan-colored flower spikes grow a foot above the foliage in summer. Our future. The bloom time of blue oat grass is somewhere between early summer and late spring. Full … Belonging to the Poaceae family, Helictotrichon sempervirens is native to southwest and central European grasslands. The foliage is a light, silvery blue-green color, with tan colored panicles and blooms. Tiny, blue-white flowers first begin to appear on seed heads of one-sided panicles in an oat-like cluster. A popular cultivar is ‘Sapphire’ with deep blue foliage. HAKONECHLOA macra 'All Gold' Medium Height. This plant is the frosting on the cake for any garden, pleasing us by adding texture and color over the entire growing season. Mature size: 2-3' tall and 2-2.5' spread . Your rating *. The metallic blue leaves are 1/4 to 1/8 inch wide and 12-18 inches long. The water needs of this low-maintenance plant range between dry and medium. Reviews. Blue oat grass is a cool season clumping grass with blue foliage, attractive flowers and a mounded form. This cool season grass is propagated by seed in spring and by division in early spring or autumn. Graceful fountains of colorful bright blue-gray blades form neat ornamental clumps that combine well with other grasses. The blue foliage color of this cool-season, clump-forming, perennial grass grows in a mound of spikey grass and resembles the shape of a water fountain. Blue Oat grass is finely textured and its blue foliage grows around 18" tall but in a mounded shape. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. In appearance, it is similar to blue fescue (Festuca Glauca) but it is slightly bigger in size. The separated plants are treated as a new perennial grass plant and planted at a new location. Stiff, blue-gray foliage with a nice clumping habit is 24” tall and can be evergreen in our area. It grows as an accent plant, and looks great combined with blanket flower (Gaillardia), Russian sage (Perovskia), or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. A clumping grass. Grows up to 30 inches tall. It is typically grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. It is evergreen in locations with mild winters. They are tan when mature. The plant spreads slowly and is not considered invasive. Plant blue oat grass in full sun and well-drained, average-to-dry soil such as that found in rock gardens and curbside planting beds. Blue fescue is kind of a miniature version of Blue oat grass. The light tan flowers are on erect spikes that rise a foot above the foliage in mid-summer, though flowering is not as strong or commonly seen in southern California as in areas with cooler winters. Flowering time is late spring into early summer. 'Blue Oat Grass' Medium Height. Evergreen. It's tough to beat blue oat grass for a low-care plant with steel-blue color. When growing from seed, place the fully ripe seeds of the plant in moist sand in a pot and cover with foil. (Crown rot is a risk if this grass is grown in poorly drained soil.) Blue oat grass is a low-maintenance grass but would require routine trimming. Belonging to the grass family Poaceae, the scientific name of blue oat grass is Helictotrichon sempervirens. The flowers are around 4″ to 6″ inches tall and have delicate, pointed petals with thistle-like and spiky centers. Japanese Blood Grass. Best in full sun and a moist, well-drained soil. Our communities. Even though the plant is well adapted to plenty of soil types, for the perfect steel blue color, grow it in well-drained, unenriched alkaline soil in a sunny place. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. In spring, pull away the old dead leaves to maintain a fresh look of the grass. If you are confused whether Blue Oat Grass or Blue Fescue are same, here are some features about those plants to help you choose better. This plant has some cultivated varieties. The bright blue color of this deer resistant grass makes it a perfect addition to rock gardens. Spectacular blue-gray mounded foliage makes Blue Oat Grass standout from everything else in your perennial garden. Reliable and attractive accent, specimen, perfect for rock gardens. use escape to move to top level menu parent. Growing and Care Of Pink Banana Musa Velutina, New Year’s Day History: Incorporating New Year’s Traditions Into The Garden, Root Rot: How To Care For Plants With Rotting Roots, Waxflower [Chamaelaucium Uncinatum] Growing And Care, 3G organic Pesticide for plants || Make a most powerful 3G organic pesticide for any plants. These flowers with bluish tint turn harvest gold in late summer to autumn. https://plantcaretoday.com/waxflower-chamaelaucium.html, https://plantcaretoday.com/herniaria-glabra.html. The growth rate of the plant will definitely increase if you pay attention to its water needs, soil type, and light requirements. Exposure: Full sun to partial shade. Since the plant has longer leaves, they flop ever and move elegantly with the wind and provide visual interest to rock gardens. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. This is an eye-catching ornamental grass that remains vibrant all summer long. Since this grass remains semi-evergreen through winter, it should not be cut back until early spring, before new growth begins. From afar, its large clumps and projected flowers are commanding and regal, but up close they bend and sway in a soft way, with long blue-gray blades radiating out from the center. It will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest. Throughout the fall, the blue oat grass maintains vibrant light brown flower color. It tolerates everything from heavy clay to rocky, thin and poor soil. In the following year, the plant should experience robust growth in the growing season. Have tree and plant questions? Resembles a very tall Festuca. Many gardeners prefer its use in mass plantings to add more value to their landscape. Beige panicles are produced June through August, eventually achieving a light brown hue by fall. Required fields are marked *. What are these bugs? We do not seem to have this in our living collection. Very nice habit. It is also known by its German name ‘Saphirsprudel’. It is non-spreading and will grow 2 - 3' tall and just as wide. While the blue oat grass is not susceptible to pest attack, it can get rust, especially in humid climates. Wet, clay soils may lead to root rot. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Height/Spread: Mounding arching habit, 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Blue oat grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens [hel-lik-toh-TRY-kon, sem-per-VY-renz] is a semi-evergreen, cool-season, hardy, and showy ornamental grass and has distinctive blue leaves which enhances the look of your garden. There are no reviews yet. Your email address will not be published. Extremely versatile, it can be used for edging, rock gardens, containers, or in grouped at the front of the border. Helictotrichon sempervirens, or Blue Oat Grass, forms clusters of graceful, pale-blue blades that grow 2-3’ tall and wide. Size and Form Blue oat grass grows as an upright tuft or mound, reaching a height 2 to 3 feet when in flower. When propagating by division, use a sharp knife or a spade after digging up the mother plant. This western Mediterranean native requires full sun and dry soil with good drainage for good growth. The tiny, blue-white flowers are in oat-like clusters held on one side of the flower stalk. 48" tall x 24" wide (division propagated). The plant type is widely cultivated as a perennial ornamental ground cover grass. Good air circulation is needed to minimize rust (a fungal disease). Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.