Indian Wood Oats Chasmanthium latifolium
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Uniola latifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- chas-MAN-thee-um lat-ih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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River Oats is a native, clump-forming, upright grass in the Poaceae (grass) family. This easy to grow ornamental grass reaches a height between 2 to 5 feet and width of 1 to 2 feet.
The distinctive flat nodding seed heads that resemble oats emerge green in spring, turn tan in summer and then purplish in fall. They sway gracefully in the slightest breeze. The bamboo-like leaves often turn yellow-gold in fall if given enough sun. This plant is a larval host plant for butterflies as well as a food source for small mammals and birds.
It is easily grown in moist to wet well-drained soils in part sun to part shade. It is fairly tolerant of shade, especially for an ornamental grass.
Use in naturalized areas, along streams or edges of water gardens. Watch its placement especially in smaller gardens as may spread aggressively by rhizomes and seeds.
This plant was selected as the 1994 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be a bit weedy as it self seeds easily.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Rock Stream Garden Native Woodland Garden, Durham
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chasmanthium
- Species:
- latifolium
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Canada, Central & E. U.S.A. to NE. Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NM , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
- 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.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wind Shimmer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Seed heads are green to tan then purplish bronze from July to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescence is an open panicle with branches nodding or drooping. It is initially green, turning brown at maturity. The individual spikelets are up to 1-1/2 inches long and over 1/2 inch wide, with typically 6 to 17 florets. Flowers bloom from June to October and are wind pollinated.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 5-9 inch long and 1-inch wide flat green leaf blades are upright to slightly arching, turn a yellow-coppery color in fall and brown in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green and smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
