General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Grass/Grass-like
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 6 feet to 8 feet
Plant Spread: 2 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Brown
Other: Light Brown/Tan
Bloom Size: Over 12"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Groundcover
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Salt tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Wind
Containers: Not suitable for containers

Image
Common names
  • Sea Oats
  • Seaoats

Photo Gallery
Location: Kure Beach, North Carolina (dune complex)
Date: May 24, 2023
Sea oats #460; RAB p. 66, 29-13-4; AG p. 662, 129-60-1, "Ancient
Location: Port St. Joe, Florida
Date: 2013-10-19
Location: Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida
Date: 2014-01-10
Location: Hampton, VA | June, 2022
Location: Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida
Date: 2018-03-20
a mass in the dunes
Location: Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida
Date: 2018-03-20
mass in the dunes
Location: Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida
Date: 2018-03-20
flower-seedheads
Location: Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida
Date: 2018-03-20
close-up of foliage and a broken flower-seed stalk
Location: Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida 
Date: 2014-01-10
Location: Ponce Inlet, Florida
Date: 2014-01-10
Location:  Amelia Island , Florida
Date: 2015-12-24
Location: Amelia Island , Florida
Date: 2015-12-24
Location: Amelia Island , Florida
Date: 2015-12-24
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Jan 2, 2016 6:00 PM concerning plant:
    Considered endangered. This grass is very heat, drought, wind, and salt tolerant.
    Used for erosion control and dune stabilization. Not a great garden grass because it multiplies through long fibrous roots that run.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 9, 2018 7:46 PM concerning plant:
    This is the major dune stabilizing species from coastal Virginia down all through the coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana.
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WebTucker On May 24, 2023 Obtained plant
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