What it is
Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is in the Poaceae (Grass) family. A graceful native shade grass with flat oat-like seed heads that dangle and rustle. Reseeds in dry shade.
How to grow it
It wants part to full shade, water it moderate, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.5. Space plants about 18 in apart. Expect roughly Established. Hardy native grass.
How it's used
Inland Sea Oats is used: ornamental; seed for wildlife.
🔎 How to identify it
- Bamboo-like blades
- Flat drooping seed heads
- Thrives in shade
Not for eating
How to grow & propagate inland sea oats
Everything I've worked out about starting this one, keeping it alive through a Texas year, and turning one plant into many — free.
How to propagate inland sea oats
Grasses and grains are sown where they grow — they germinate fast in warm soil and don't like having their roots disturbed. The ornamental and native bunchgrasses can also be divided in spring. For the grain types, plant in a block rather than a single row so wind-pollination fills out the heads.
Growing inland sea oats in Texas
Give it part to full shade and tolerant soil. Match the spot to the plant and most of the battle is already won.
Time your planting to our long warm season and watch the frost dates at both ends; the live weather tool on this site is built for exactly that.
Once it's rooted in, this is a low-water plant — overwatering does more harm than drought here. Water deeply to establish, then back off and let it prove how tough it is.
Harvesting
Figure on roughly established before you're harvesting.
Making more for free
If you want more, let your healthiest plants mature fully and collect the seed once it's dry on the plant — then store it somewhere cool, dark, and dry until next season.
Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.