Blue oat grass

An attractive cool-season grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens is a medium-sized, clump-forming, evergreen grass with rather upright, very fine, silvery-blue leaves. Elegant arching oat-like flowerheads up to 1.4m rise well above the clump of leaves in early summer; these loose panicles rapidly turn hay-coloured in an attractive contrast to the rather stiff blue leaves. Blue Oat Grass is lovely as an architectural specimen and is a good, low maintenance plant. Needs sharp drainage and dislikes high humidity.

Site: Tolerates exposure, including coastal exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil, neutral to alkaline preferred
Position: Full sun
Season of Interest: Spring, summer, autumn, winter
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 10” (80cm) Spread: 8” (60cm)