Helictotrichon sempervirens explained

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 140cm (60inches) tall by 60cm (20inches) wide.^[1] 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".^[2]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^{[3] [4]}

References

• Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis. Centralblatt für Sammlung und Veroffentlichung von Einzeldiagnosen neuer Pflanzen (Helictotrichon sempervirens); [Edited by Friedrich Fedde]. Berlin 45:7. 1938
• GrassBase: Helictotrichon sempervirens entry

Notes and References

1. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
2. Book: Harrison, Lorraine. RHS Latin for gardeners. 2012. Mitchell Beazley. United Kingdom. 9781845337315. 224.
3. Web site: Helictotrichon sempervirens AGM. RHS Plant Finder. Royal Horticultural Society. 4 August 2020.
4. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 47 . Royal Horticultural Society . 3 March 2018.