Poverty Oat Grass

Poverty Oat Grass earns its name for thriving in tough conditions, tolerating poor and dry soils. Come spring, it quickly greens up into a small mound of leaves, leading to tall, thin flowerheads in summer. Transitioning to a golden straw color in fall, it overwinters as a mound of curled leaves. Uncommon for a grass, it attracts butterflies with its flowers. While Poverty Oat Grass is prominent in the first few years of the planting, it might gradually fade out as other plants establish themselves in the garden