Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium · Ornamental grass

Northern Sea Oats is a moderate-growing ornamental grass, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, that matures to about 2–5 ft × 1–2.5 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with high water needs in moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect brown, green and purple blooms in summer and fall. It attracts butterflies, pollinators and small mammals, stands up well to black walnut, deer and drought and grows happily in containers.

USDA zones

3-8

Sun

Full sun, Part shade

Water

High

Mature size

2–5 ft × 1–2.5 ft

Growth rate

Medium

Maintenance

Low

Soil

Moist, Occasionally-wet

Bloom color

Brown, Green, Purple

Bloom season

Summer, Fall

Attracts

Butterflies, Pollinators, Small mammals, Songbirds

Tough against

Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Erosion, Salt, Wet soil

Native to

Eastern United States, northern Mexico