Common name: Blue Oat Grass, Ornamental Oats
Family: Poaceae, Grass
Height x width: 2-3' x 2-3'
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: to 18" long and ½" wide, light glaucous blue, semi-evergreen
Flowers: drooping one-sided panicle to 6" long and up to 3' high (12-18" above leaves), pale blue turning light brown, summer; golden in fall
Hardiness: zones 4-7, to 8 on west coast
Soil: well-drained, tolerates low fertility
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: none serious, occasionally rust where humid
Landscape habit, uses: border specimen, rock garden
Other interest: native to Europe; from the Greek heliktos meaning twisted and trichos meaning spine, refering to the shape of the awn (appendage on the glumes--bracts-- of grass flowers)
Other culture: may need mulch in zone 4
Propagation: spring or fall division, seeds
Species:
sempervirens (sem-per-vir' ens)--main species as described above, usually found in commerce as just the species; only cultivar usually found is 'Saphirsprudel' ('Sapphire') which is a better blue than the species, and more rust resistant
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