Photo by: Paul Rebmann, Pawpaw Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Paul Rebmann, Pawpaw Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Paul Rebmann, Pawpaw Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sea oats

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Uniola paniculata

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

4 - 6 ft tall by wide-spreading ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Deep-rooted and spreading by rhisomes. Blooms spring-fall.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Hurricane Wind Resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant. Mass plantings on beach dunes for stabilization. Seed heads useful in dried arrangements.

Considerations:

Spreads aggressively via rhizomes.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division, root cuttings..

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

mostly neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Birds and other wildlife eat the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Beach dunes, coastal grasslands.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

This plant is used heavily for dune stabilization. It is illegal to dig it up in Florida due to its important role in protecting the dunes.

General Comments:

This is a protected plant as it is of major importance to the stabilization of beach dunes.