Helictotrichon sempervirens

Helictotrichon sempervirens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Helictotrichon
Species:
H. sempervirens
Binomial name
Helictotrichon sempervirens
(Vill.) Pilg.[1]
Synonyms

Avena notarisii Parl.
Avena sempervirens Vill.

Helictotrichon sempervirens, the blue oat grass, is a species of flowering plant in the true grass family, Poaceae, native to central and southwest European grasslands. It is a bunchgrass often used as an ornamental grass in garden design and landscaping.

The foliage is pale green with a hint of blue. It grows in an arching shape, up to 140 cm (55 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) wide.[2] The grass blooms with pale blue-green flowers in May to August. The plant is an evergreen perennial, although with summer drought stress semi-dormancy occurs. The Latin name sempervirens literally means "immortal" but in botany means "evergreen".[3]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Helictotrichon sempervirens". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  2. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  4. ^ "Helictotrichon sempervirens AGM". RHS Plant Finder. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 47. Retrieved 3 March 2018.