Inland Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifoliumAlso called Inland Seaoats
Inland Sea Oats is a grass native to the Texas Hill Country that grows 2–4 ft tall and 3–6 ft wide. It wants shade and low to medium water, and handles clay soil. Blooms green in summer. Good for butterflies.
Will it grow in your yard?
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From our guide
Village of the HillsShade grass with drooping flat seed heads that turn from green to papery tan and rattle in wind.
Why it works here
The best ornamental grass for shade in Central Texas, and one of few that thrives under trees. Larval host for several skippers.
Watch out
Reseeds enthusiastically. Cut the seed heads before they drop if you do not want a colony.
The facts
8 sources- Type
- Grass
- Sun
- Shade (under 3 hrs)
- Water
- Low to medium
- Height
- 2–4 ft
- Spread
- 3–6 ft
- Bloom
- Summer · green
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- Takes clay · recorded on calcareous, clay, limestone, loam, moist, poor drainage, sand
- Deer
- Moderate — deer may browse it, especially new growth. Grazed occasionally
- Wildlife
- Supports butterflies
Where it grows
Recorded in these EPA Level IV ecoregions in the Austin and Hill Country launch area:
3,568 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).
Can you buy it?
In the Village of the Hills guide, but not on the grower stock lists we read yet. Ask a native-plant nursery.
also grows from seed It starts readily from seed, so a packet from a native-seed supplier, or seed collected with permission, is often the easiest way to get a plant no nursery pots.