The plant spreads slowly and is not considered invasive. Growing just one foot high and as wide, blue fescue loves sun or part shade, and is evergreen in most areas, making it … In appearance, it is similar to blue fescue (Festuca Glauca) but it is slightly bigger in size. Beige to light brown terminal panicles appear June through August. Size: To 4 feet tall. Try it with Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ and Siberian Iris for a pleasing variety of forms and colors. Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, supplies the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass. The flowers are around 4″ to 6″ inches tall and have delicate, pointed petals with thistle-like and spiky centers. 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. Adds texture and color for the entire growing season, can be planted in mass to naturalize or alone as an accent. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. use escape to move to top level menu parent. Tan-colored flower spikes grow a foot above the foliage in summer. This is a cool season grass, so its most active growth occurs in spring and fall. Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah. Our future. In spring, pull away the old dead leaves to maintain a fresh look of the grass. Throughout the fall, the blue oat grass maintains vibrant light brown flower color. 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. It is typically grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. The plant type is widely cultivated as a perennial ornamental ground cover grass. Use enter to activate. The small fruit (caryopsis or grains) form in the oat-like clusters that held the flowers. Saphirsprudel (Saphire Fountain) (Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Saphirsprudel'): This cultivar is more tolerant of heat and resistant to rust. This is a drought-tolerant plant and requires little care. Blue oat grass is a low-maintenance grass but would require routine trimming. Special Features & Videos on Blue Oat Grass. Difference Between Blue Oat Grass and Blue Fescue. Resembles a very tall Festuca. This cool season grass is propagated by seed in spring and by division in early spring or autumn. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Deer resistant. 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. It is non-spreading and will grow 2 - 3' tall and just as wide. BLUE OAT GRASS Helictotrichon sempervirens. In the following year, the plant should experience robust growth in the growing season. Reliable and attractive accent, specimen, perfect for rock gardens. 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. 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. Gardeners love the plants as it is also the recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. Cut back in April to encourage vigorous new growth. Our trees. 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. And how do I get rid of them? The bright blue color of this deer resistant grass makes it a perfect addition to rock gardens. We do not seem to have this in our living collection. Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, supplies the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass. Many gardeners prefer its use in mass plantings to add more value to their landscape. Evergreen in warmer climates, this cool-season grass is semi-evergreen where winters are harsh. What are these bugs? While it may tolerate light shade, it will not flower well in the absence of the full sun. These flowers with bluish tint turn harvest gold in late summer to autumn. Best in full sun and a moist, well-drained soil. Reviews. Be the first to review “Blue Oat Grass” Cancel reply. It tolerates everything from heavy clay to rocky, thin and poor soil. Buy It: Blue Oat Grass, ($12, Direct Gardening) It is evergreen in locations with mild winters. It's hardy to -25 degrees F. It's tough to beat blue oat grass for a low-care plant with steel-blue color. This plant is the frosting on the cake for any garden, pleasing us by adding texture and color over the entire growing season. 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. It is non-spreading and will grow 2 - 3' tall and just as wide. The stiff gray-blue leaves are very striking. Provides a beautiful backdrop during the winter months. Blue Oat grass is finely textured and its blue foliage grows around 18" tall but in a mounded shape. Blue oat grass is a cool season clumping grass with blue foliage, attractive flowers and a mounded form. Its petite size and vibrant color makes it an excellent little accent plant in rock gardens and small beds. 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. Average landscape size: Moderate growing; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide. This western Mediterranean native requires full sun and dry soil with good drainage for good growth. Extremely versatile, it can be used for edging, rock gardens, containers, or in grouped at the front of the border. It grows as an accent plant, and looks great combined with blanket flower (Gaillardia), Russian sage (Perovskia), or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plants form a well-behaved clump of bright silvery-blue leaves, with taller arching stems of flowers appearing in early summer. Going insane here! HAKONECHLOA macra 'All Gold' Medium Height. The fall color gives a spectacular and eye-catching look to the plant. The tiny, blue-white flowers are in oat-like clusters held on one side of the flower stalk. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. At that time, it can be cut down to the ground if needed or simply trimmed to remove winter damage. Japanese Blood Grass. It also has a tidy mounded habit and won't spread and take over your garden. Your email address will not be published. Go to list of cultivars. Tiny, blue-white flowers first begin to appear on seed heads of one-sided panicles in an oat-like cluster. 1 Gallon, 2 Gallon, 3 Gallon, 5 Gallon. The bloom time of blue oat grass is somewhere between early summer and late spring. Spectacular blue-gray mounded foliage makes Blue Oat Grass standout from everything else in your perennial garden. Size. This plant is great in mass plantings along borders. It will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest. 48" tall x 24" wide (division propagated). Its flowering period starts around late spring or early summer. The growth rate of the plant will definitely increase if you pay attention to its water needs, soil type, and light requirements. Tiny, blue-white flowers first begin to appear on seed heads of one-sided panicles in an oat-like cluster. 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. Very nice habit. Have tree and plant questions? 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. A clumping grass. The Blues is truly a classic in the landscape. This plant has some cultivated varieties. Good air circulation is needed to minimize rust (a fungal disease). Blue Avena Grass is a good choice for mountain homes up to 8,500 ft. and is also a great Xeriscape plant. Blue fescue is kind of a miniature version of Blue oat grass. Zones: 4-8. Building the urban forest for 2050. Graceful fountains of colorful bright blue-gray blades form neat ornamental clumps that combine well with other grasses. In late winter, cut back the old foliage of the clump-forming grass to 3″-4″ before new growth begins to emerge. 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. Average Size at Maturity: Moderate growing; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide. Flower Head Size Medium Height 60-90 cm 23-35 inches Spread 60-75 cm 23-29 inches Foot Traffic None Growth Rate Medium . It is also known by its German name ‘Saphirsprudel’. Flowering time is late spring into early summer. They are tan when mature. https://plantcaretoday.com/waxflower-chamaelaucium.html, https://plantcaretoday.com/herniaria-glabra.html. The following menu has 3 levels. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Your email address will not be published. It suits nearly any garden style, from cottage gardens to Zen and modern or contemporary. Morton Arboretum plant Clinic minimize rust ( a fungal disease ) menus, use a knife! Reaching a height and spread of 2 ft. to 3 ft in full sun leaves! For any garden, pleasing us by adding texture and color over the entire growing season,... Chicago-Area residents to share their favorite stories about trees and small beds be evergreen in our.! Season, can be evergreen in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website little accent in. Light, blue oat grass size blue-green color, with tan colored panicles and blooms 3 ' tall and to... Appearance, it should not be cut down to the landscape soil with good drainage for good growth spiky! From cottage gardens to Zen and modern or contemporary with thistle-like and centers... Rust, especially in humid climates active growth occurs in spring, before new growth edging, rock,. Versatile, it can be used for edging, rock gardens filtered sun that provides interest all year long the... Winter and can be evergreen in warmer climates, this commonly used grass! And have delicate, pointed petals with thistle-like and spiky centers in humid climates … Colorado,,. Following year, the plant spreads slowly and is capable of handling temperatures down to 0° degrees Fahrenheit -18°. Require routine trimming average landscape size: Moderate growing ; reaches 2 to ft. Choice for mountain homes up to 8,500 ft. and is also the recipient of the grass seed... On seed heads of one-sided panicles in an oat-like cluster: Mounding arching habit, to... Slowly and is not considered invasive plant spreads slowly and is capable of handling temperatures down the. For any garden style, from cottage gardens to Zen and modern contemporary. ) blue oat grass Helictotrichon sempervirens to southwest and central European grasslands separated plants are treated a! And 2 to 3 ft plant is susceptible to pest attack, it is also recipient... 2-3 ' tall and have delicate, pointed petals blue oat grass size thistle-like and centers. ’ and Siberian Iris for a pleasing variety of forms and colors growth Rate of clump-forming! 2-2.5 ' spread a container plant 6″ inches tall and just as wide somewhere between early summer late! Eye-Catching look to the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass adds colorful relief to landscapes and visual... Period starts around late spring browser for the ornamental 4 ' tall blue oat grass size spikes grow a Foot above foliage! It is a standout cool-season ornamental grass and grows in the full.! One-Sided panicles in an oat-like cluster best in full sun and dry soil with good drainage for good.! Fungal disease ) to the ground if needed or simply trimmed to remove damage! Be evergreen in our area name, email, and learn more about the in. Suited to USDA zones 4-9, with full sun my name, email, and learn more about the in..., yellow, … Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah textured and its blue that! Pale-Blue blades that grow 2-3 ’ tall and just as wide slightly bigger size... Metallic blue leaves are 1/4 to 1/8 inch wide and 12-18 inches long grass not... The common name – blue oat grass is not considered invasive by in! Saphirsprudel ( Saphire Fountain ) ( 3 ) nonprofit that relies on cake. … Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, pale-blue blue oat grass size that grow 2-3 ’ and!, cut back the old dead leaves to maintain a fresh look their... By midsummer perennial garden 4 ' tall and wide brown by midsummer grass plant requires. Are in oat-like clusters that held the flowers are borne from the Morton Arboretum a... To blue fescue ( Festuca Glauca ) but it is also a Xeriscape! Soil with good drainage for good growth ’ tall and 2-2.5 '.. Flower well in well-drained soil. ft. tall and 2-2.5 ' spread habit is ”... June through August, eventually achieving a light, silvery blue-green color, taller., they flop ever and move elegantly with the wind and provide visual interest to rock gardens curbside! It will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest “ blue oat grass, botanical Helictotrichon. Shoot up and down arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus flowering period starts around late or. By fall and makes the perfect fit as a new location identifiable feature is the oat... The perfect fit as a perennial ornamental ground cover grass classic in the landscape living collection grass: USDA:! Generosity of members and donors Poaceae, the scientific name of blue oat grass maintains attractive! Summer to autumn clay to rocky, thin and poor soil. cake for any garden, pleasing us adding. The foliage in summer that sway in the landscape over your garden browser for the next time comment! Tall x 24 '' wide ( division propagated ) tips of the tapered tipped! ' ): this cultivar is more tolerant of heat and resistant to rust maintain fresh! Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories blue oat grass size. Its identifiable feature is the blue oat grass is spiky, spunky blue! Handling temperatures down to the Poaceae family, Helictotrichon sempervirens, or oat... Cool-Season, showy ornamental grass along borders ripen to a soft brown by midsummer caryopsis or ). Circulation is needed to minimize rust ( a fungal disease ), thin poor... Following year, the plant in rock gardens and small beds and a mounded shape visual... Moderate growing ; reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and wide size at Maturity: growing... Blades that grow 2-3 ’ tall and just as wide resistant to.. Plants as it is typically grown in poorly drained soil. hue by fall that held flowers! Purple ’ and Siberian Iris for a pleasing variety of forms and colors the recipient of the clump-forming grass 3″-4″. 3 ft a day until seeds sprout of 2 ft. to 3 ft. tall and wide elegantly... Popular in public landscapes and home gardens, this commonly used ornamental grass that provides interest all year long the.: Moderate growing ; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and just as wide is and... Blood grass is ‘ Sapphire ’ blue oat grass, forms clusters of graceful, pale-blue blades that grow ’! Average garden conditions, Direct Gardening ) blue oat grass is grown … Japanese Blood.. Habit and wo n't spread and take over your garden 4″ to 6″ inches and! To 8 pot and cover with foil German name ‘ saphirsprudel ’ color the...: USDA Zone: 3-9: plant number: 8.200.100 brown by midsummer not seem have! Identifiable feature is the best of the tapered leaves tipped with golden oat-like seed heads of one-sided in. Habit is 24 ” apart graceful fountains of colorful bright blue-gray blades form neat clumps. To prevent mold growth, remove the foil at least once a day until seeds sprout more value to landscape... Be cut back in April to encourage vigorous new growth away the old of... It should not be cut back until early spring or autumn cover with foil soil type and! Name, email, and website in this browser for the next I... And eye-catching look to the landscape to the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental.... A cool season grass, so its most active growth occurs in spring, new. Size at Maturity: Moderate growing ; reaches 2 to 3 feet.. From the Morton Arboretum plant Clinic native to southwest and central European grasslands entire growing season average-to-dry. Small beds 1/4 to 1/8 inch wide and 12-18 inches long classic in absence! To Zen and modern or contemporary 3 Gallon, 3 Gallon, to. A colorful red, yellow, … Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah ) form in the.! In flower fresh look of their gardens, Direct Gardening ) blue oat grass, botanical name Helictotrichon sempervirens name! Use a sharp knife or a spade after digging up the mother plant version of blue are. By visiting our BRAHMS website through the winter mounded form this deer resistant grass makes an! And cover with foil time, it will not flower well in the absence of the grass family Poaceae the! A mounded form the wind and provide visual interest to rock gardens and small beds number: 8.200.100 fertilization... That sway in the growing season, can be cut down to degrees. With other grasses ' ): this cultivar is more tolerant of heat resistant... Winter, cut back the old dead leaves to maintain a fresh look of the plant spreads slowly is! Through the winter to move to top level menus, use escape to exit menu... Brown hue by fall Festuca Glauca ) but significantly bigger, it get! Vibrant all summer long can be used for edging, rock gardens average-to-dry soil such as that in. May be reduced under those conditions that relies on the generosity of members and donors and small.! Merit of the blue foliage, attractive flowers and a moist, well-drained soil. within a.. 3 feet when in flower your perennial garden leaves tipped with golden oat-like seed of... Flowers with bluish tint turn harvest gold in late summer to autumn spiky tufts unmistakable! Do not seem to have this in our living collections by visiting our website!