Jess Cole
Inland Sea Oats
The common name for this grass comes from its resemblance to a coastal native grass, Uniola paniculata, common to sandy coastal dunes throughout the southeast. This native grass, though, you will find inland, growing abundantly along rivers, creeks, and in moist woods. Chasmanthium latifolium grows naturally at the edges of woods and riparian slopes, serving as an excellent stabilizer to sandy banks. This grass adapts incredibly well to seemingly any environment. It has proven to do excellently in full sun, drought conditions, and even harsh city spaces such as medians. I adore it for its oat-like seed heads that weep, creating interesting texture in the garden and seasonal beauty in the fall in both the natural world or on my dining table in cut flower bouquets alongside wild fall-blooming swamp sunflower and ironweed. In the average landscape, I recommend cutting the seeds heads to prevent them falling after their bronze fall color fades, due to how profuse of a reseeder this grass is. However, it is also incredible in giant masses, so perhaps you want it to take over a space.
Read more entries of Jess Cole's column, “Our Sustainable Garden,” here.
