Is Northern Sea Oats deer resistant?

Chasmanthium latifolium

Flat dangling seed heads of northern sea oats — Photo by Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Rarely damaged

Deer almost always leave this alone.

Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271

Plant typeOrnamental grass HardinessZones 5–9 LightFull shade to part shade Mature height24–60 in BloomSummer and Fall

MaintenanceModerate

Native range29 US states

About Northern Sea Oats

Flat oat-like seed heads dangle and rattle in wind, and it is one of very few ornamental grasses that performs properly in shade. It seeds itself around enthusiastically.

Soil and care

Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
Drainage: Consistently moist
Water: Moderate
Spacing: 18 to 24 in apart
Growth rate: Moderate
Maintenance: Moderate

Similar to Northern Sea Oats

Other ornamental grasss with the same deer rating.

Where Northern Sea Oats grows

Hardy across 50 states on zone range alone, and native to 29 of them. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering. Select any state, including one it will not grow in, for what is resistant there.

Native and hardyHardy on zone rangeNot hardy — still linked

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Every list Northern Sea Oats belongs to.

Hardy in these zones

Common questions about Northern Sea Oats

Is Northern Sea Oats deer resistant?: Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
What hardiness zones does Northern Sea Oats grow in?: Northern Sea Oats is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
Does Northern Sea Oats grow in shade?: Yes. Northern Sea Oats tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
How big does Northern Sea Oats get?: Mature height is roughly 24–60 in. Growth rate is moderate.