A mature Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Barrier · Border · Mass planting · Specimen · Slope · Small space · Drought tolerant · Rock

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Blue Oat Grass

Helictotrichon sempervirens · Ornamental grass

Blue Oat Grass is a slow-growing ornamental grass, hardy in USDA zones 4-8, that matures to about 2–3 ft × 2–2.5 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained and occasionally-dry soil. Expect blue and brown blooms in summer. It stands up well to black walnut and deer and drought.

USDA zones: 4-8
Sun: Full sun
Water: Low
Mature size: 2–3 ft × 2–2.5 ft
Growth rate: Slow
Maintenance: Low
Soil: Well-drained, Occasionally-dry
Bloom color: Blue, Brown
Bloom season: Summer
Tough against: Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Dry soil, Pollution
Native to: France, Italy

Will it survive your winters?

We score Blue Oat Grass’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8