River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

River Oats is an attractive, dense-covering grass for shade, with decorative seedheads. This is a 2-4 ft., clump-forming, perennial grass bearing large, drooping, oat-like flower spikelets from slender, arching branches. The blue-green, bamboo-like leaves often turn a bright yellow-gold, especially in sunnier sites, in fall.

It reseeds easily and can expand aggressively within a couple of years, making a solid mat in moist loams. It has been used to prevent soil erosion along streams. The seed stalks are attractive in flower arrangements. Grows on shaded slopes; low thickets; stream banks.

Light Requirement: Part Shade, Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist sands, loams, and clays. Poorly drained okay.
Conditions Comments: Avoid planting in continuous full sun, as its leaves turn yellowish without adequate shade. The more water it receives, the more tolerant it will be of intense sun, but it still prefers shade.
Wildlife: Seeds eaten by small mammals and granivorous birds. Leaves provide graze for mammals. Stems and leaves used as nesting material by birds.
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Pepper & salt skipper butterfly, Bell's road side skipper butterfly, Bronzed roadside skipper butterfly