FNPS Plant Database

Uniola paniculata

sea oats
  • 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

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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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

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.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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