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Chasmanthium latifolium - (Michx.)H.O.Yates.

Common Name Indian Woodoats, Wild Oats Grass, North American Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats, Spanglegrass River Oa
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 4-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist fertile woodlands[200]. Along stream and river banks and in rich deciduous woods[270].
Range South-eastern N. America to northern Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Chasmanthium latifolium Indian Woodoats, Wild Oats Grass, North American Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats, Spanglegrass River Oa


Chasmanthium latifolium Indian Woodoats, Wild Oats Grass, North American Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats, Spanglegrass River Oa

 

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Summary

Main Bloom Time: Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Chasmanthium latifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Uniola palmeri. Vasey.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked. It can be used as a cereal in making bread, biscuits etc, or can be ground into a flour and used as a mush[177, 257]. A food crop of the Cocopa Indians of Mexico[236].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

The dried flower heads are sometimes used in flower arranging[274]. Special Features: Attracts birds, North American native, Invasive, Naturalizing, Wetlands plant, Attracts butterflies. Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers. Landscape Uses - Container, Erosion control, Massing, Seashore, Specimen.

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Thrives in full sun or dappled shade on rich, moisture-retentive soils sheltered from strong winds[200]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in situ and only just cover the seed[1]. Division in spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio (south), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa (central), Kansas (east & south), Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (northwest), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Mexico, Nuevo León,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Michx.)H.O.Yates.

Botanical References

200270274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Gary Fine   Tue May 16 2006

I am looking for information on the production, vegetative and seed, for Chasmanthium latifolium. Nursery production and field scale production for seed and plant increase. This is for local ecotypic establishment of native and locally collected seeds. Information on row and plant spacing, sun or shading for optimum seed production in a field setting.

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