Alternate name: Inland Sea Oats, Wild Oats, River Oats

Family: Poaceae, Grass view all from this family

Description This is a 2-4 ft., clump-forming, perennial grass bearing large, drooping, oat-like flower spikelets from slender, arching branches. The blue-green, bamboo-like leaves often turn a bright yellow-gold, especially in sunnier sites, in fall.

Habitat Shaded slopes; low thickets; stream banks.

Range New Jersey to Wisconsin and Iowa, south to n. Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

Discussion Indian Wood-oats makes a solid mat in moist loams and has been planted to help stabilize sandy dunes. It may self-sow somewhat in the garden.