Sapphire Fountain Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Sapphire Fountain'
Plant Height: 24 inches
Flower Height: 3 feet
Spread: 24 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Description:
Low maintenance with eye-catching dramatic color, this variety features tidy mounds of arching steel-blue foliage; airy, oat colored plumes rise above during the summer and fall months; perfect accent plant or used in borders and beds
Ornamental Features
Sapphire Fountain Oat Grass is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The tan seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from mid summer to late fall. It attractive grassy leaves remain blue in color throughout the year.
Landscape Attributes
Sapphire Fountain Oat Grass is an herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a shapely form and gracefully arching stems. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Sapphire Fountain Oat Grass is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Sapphire Fountain Oat Grass will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to dry locations, and dislikes excessive moisture. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
