Blue oat grass

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Description

Blue oat grass is a striking evergreen perennial grass with distinctive blue-gray foliage and a clumping habit that can reach 24-30 in. high. Tall wheat colored inflorescences develop in early summer and grow 6-12 in. above foliage.

Blue oat grass is well suited as a contrasting element in mixed perennial plantings, rock gardens and containers. Native to the western Mediterranean region, it is a cool season grass that grows best with good drainage and regular moisture throughout the year; avoid planting in garden spaces with hot afternoon sun. It grows well in containers, along dry stream beds and among flowering perennials on banks and in parkways.

Plant Type: Grass
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Graceful, Clumping
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Blue green
Flower Color: Cream
Flower Season: Summer
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Cold hardy, All day sun
Function: Borders, Banks, Small spaces, Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Parks and open space, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces
Height: 24 in. – 30 in.
Width: 24 in. – 30 in.

Watering Schedule: Low 2

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply every 2 weeks after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least another two weeks. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
To save water, in many cases you can go longer in between waterings during the winter, often up to 3-4 weeks between watering for well-established plants. Two weeks after watering, check the soil approximately 4” below the surface. If it is still significantly moist, you can wait longer before watering again.
In most cases, if you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, you may use these features to save some water in in the fall and winter. If you are using automatic weather adjusting functions, continue to allow the timer to run every two weeks. It will adjust the number of minutes it runs to account for the cooler weather.
It is important to group plants with the same water needs together in the landscape to avoid needing to over or under water plants when running your irrigation system.