Helictotrichon sempervirens: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southwestern Alps in France, Italy
Plant Profile: Helictotrichon sempervirens
Taxonomy: Helictotrichon sempervirensNames
Blue Oats Grass
Phonetic Spelling:hel-lik-toh-TRY-kon sem-per-VY-renz
Genus:Helictotrichon
Species:sempervirens
Family:Poaceae
Helictotrichon is an ornamental grass that thrives in cooler seasons and is simple to cultivate in dry to moderately moist, well-drained soil. The vibrant blue hue of its foliage is most pronounced when grown in drier environments.
Helictotrichon sempervirens Feature Summary
Helictotrichon sempervirens Image Gallery
Tags
#arching
#evergreen
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#low maintenance
#slopes
#ornamental grass
#well-drained soil
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#blue-green leaves
#groundcover
#clumping
#dry soils tolerant
#black walnut toxicity tolerant
Similar Plants
Helictotrichon sempervirens is often confused with:
Helictotrichon sempervirens Feature Summary
Attributes
Southwestern Alps in France, Italy
Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
Perennial
Flowers
Blue oats grass has one-sided drooping clusters of pale blue flowers on 4 ft. arching stems.
Brown/Copper
Blue
Spike
Panicle
Summer
Leaves
This has long, narrow leaves on arching stems which taper to a fine point and roll inward.
Semi-evergreen
Blue
Linear
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Ground Cover
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Semi-evergreen
Arching
Clumping
Slow
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Fruit
Brown/Copper
Stem
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Specimen
Barrier
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Dry Soil
Black Walnut
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Helictotrichon sempervirens Image Gallery
Helictotrichon sempervirens Attributes
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Distribution
Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Helictotrichon sempervirens Flowers
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Flower Description
Blue oats grass has one-sided drooping clusters of pale blue flowers on 4 ft. arching stems.
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Flower Color
Blue
Brown/Copper
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Helictotrichon sempervirens Leaves
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Description
This has long, narrow leaves on arching stems which taper to a fine point and roll inward.
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Color
Blue
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Helictotrichon sempervirens Whole Plant Traits
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Helictotrichon sempervirens Cultural Conditions
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Helictotrichon sempervirens: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Helictotrichon sempervirens: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Helictotrichon sempervirens Fruit
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Helictotrichon sempervirens Stem
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Helictotrichon sempervirens Landscape
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Helictotrichon sempervirens: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
