Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Uniola paniculata

Uniola paniculata L.

Sea Oats, Seaoats

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: UNPA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Flat, oval, scaly, brownish spikelets are crowded into a curving cluster on a tall, smooth stem.

A spectacular grass, often used for erosion control along beaches. A similar but smaller and more delicate species, Wild Oats (U. latifolia), has pendulous spikelets and does not exceed 5' (1.5 m) in height. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental and collected for dried bouquets.

From the Image Gallery

14 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA
Native Distribution: Virginia south to Florida; west to Texas.
Native Habitat: Coastal sands.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				FACU	FACU

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1991 VOL. 8, NO.6 - Wildflower Seeds and Germination, Special Intern Appeal Enjoys Great Success, Di...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Uniola paniculata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Uniola paniculata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Uniola paniculata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back