Bulbous Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum 'Variegatum'
SKU
00305
Perennial grass that performs best with moist conditions and in cooler seasons of the year. Clear blue-green blades have white striping forming attractive small clumps good for massing, rock gardens.
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Full sun
Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat.
We no longer grow this plant
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| Botanical Pronunciation | a-ren-AH-ther-um ee-LAH-tee-us bul-BOH-sum var-ee-GAY-tum |
|---|---|
| Lore | Linnaeus mistakenly grouped this grass with the true oats in genus Avena, and while this was corrected by Willdenow, the association remained through the common name, oat grass. |
| Average Size at Maturity | Slow grower to 12 in. tall and 18 in. wide. |
| Bloom Time | Prized for foliage. |
| Design Ideas | A wonderful thick textured grass ideal for massing in meadows and woodlands. Plant along streambeds wet or dry and in rocky outcropping. Excellent for nesting boulders and to cloak ground around widely spaced shrubs. Super groundcover for Asian inspired gardens with sun. Line it up as an informal edging at curbs or lawn. Super spotted into the edge of flagstone or gravel pathways to loosely define their boundaries. Used properly in a super spare modern setting, its texture can create interesting effects when plants are massed in irregular or geometric patterns. |
| Deciduous/ Evergreen | Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color | Variegated |
| Garden Style | Contemporary, Rustic |
| Growth Habit | Clumping |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Landscape Use | Border, Rock Garden, Water Garden, Coastal Exposure |
| Light Needs | Full sun |
| Soil Needs | All-Purpose Plant Food |
| Special Feature | Clump Forming, Dramatic Foliage Color, Extreme Cold Hardiness, Tolerates Poor Soils |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Watering Needs | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Companion Plants | This grass will overwhelm plants that are less than 12 inches tall. Good companion plants, such as Frikartii Aster (Aster x frikartii), Gold Coin Daisy (Asteriscus maritimus 'Gold Coin') and pink Red Fox Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Red Fox') are colorful, hardy and have stems that reach about one foot high. For a complementary mixture with larger grasses, try Foerster's Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster') or Overdam Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam'). |
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring.
This Plant's Growing Zones: 4-8
Your USDA Cold Hardiness Zone:
Your climate may be too cold for this plant