Helictotrichon sempervirens

Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society

This award-winning, semi-evergreen, ornamental grass, commonly called blue oat grass, is considered the best of the mid-sized blue-leaved grasses. It grows in attractive round clumps and features narrow steel-blue leaf blades. Airy tan panicles appear in early to midsummer, sitting about 2 feet above the foliage.

A fine specimen plant, it can also be massed for a groundcover effect and makes an excellent partner in mixed beds and borders. It is hardy, salt and drought tolerant, and deer and rabbit resistant. Generally, a low-maintenance plant, it does benefit from being cut back in late winter.