Blue Oats Grass Helictotrichon sempervirens

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Helictotrichon

  Species:

  sempervirens

  Family:

  Poaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Division

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Southwestern Alps in France, Italy

  Distribution:

  Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming

  Dimensions:

  Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Ground Cover

  Ornamental Grasses and Sedges

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Semi-evergreen

  Habit/Form:

  Arching

  Clumping

  Growth Rate:

  Slow

  Maintenance:

  Low

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Occasionally Dry

  Available Space To Plant:

  12 inches-3 feet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Blue

  Brown/Copper

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Panicle

  Spike

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Summer

  Flower Description:

  Blue oats grass has one-sided drooping clusters of pale blue flowers on 4 ft. arching stems.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Semi-evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Blue

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Leaf Shape:

  Linear

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  < 1 inch

  Leaf Description:

  This has long, narrow leaves on arching stems which taper to a fine point and roll inward.

• Stem:

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Slope/Bank

  Small Space

  Landscape Theme:

  Drought Tolerant Garden

  Rock Garden

  Design Feature:

  Barrier

  Border

  Mass Planting

  Specimen

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Black Walnut

  Deer

  Drought

  Dry Soil

  Pollution