Northern Sea Oats

Northern Sea Oats looks best planted in mass and makes a stunning, tall ground cover beneath tall trees, including black walnuts. It provides habitat for the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly, skippers, and moths. Native to a variety of habitats from Pennsylvania to Florida, and as far as west as central Texas, Northern Sea Oats grows in many conditions, including dry woodlands, coastal dunes, and along stream banks. It is quite versatile in the garden – it performs best in moist, well-drained soil, but can also tolerate poor soil and dry conditions. Plant in rain gardens, prairie-style plantings, perennial borders, and woodland gardens alongside other shade-tolerant plants like Joe Pye Weed and Bee Balm. Plants are deer resistant. Northern Sea Oats readily reseeds in the garden, providing excellent erosion control. Unwanted seedlings are easy to remove, or you can manage seeding by removing the mature seed heads once they have turned brown, but before they release the seeds. Plants perform best when the foliage is left standing over the winter to protect the crowns from cold. Cut back to the ground in early spring.