Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) – The plant with many names as it is also called: Inland Sea Oats, Indian Wood Oats, Wild Oats, River Oats, Flathead Oats, Upland Oats, and Upland Sea Oats. Whatever name you choose, it is a clump-forming, upright, ornamental grass, usually growing 2 – 5 feet tall and 12 – 30 inches wide. The plant with many names as it is also called: Inland Sea Oats Indian Wood Oats Wild Oats River Oats Flathead Oats Upland Oats and Upland Sea Oats. Whatever name you choose it is a clump-forming upright ornamental grass usually growing 2 – 5 feet tall and 12 – 30 inches wide. Grows best in shady conditions in moist soils often being found in woods rocky slopes along streams and on moist bluffs. The hallmark of this ornamental grass is its flat drooping seed heads which will flutter even in gentle winds. Seed heads emerge green but turn purplish bronze by late summer. Bright green leaves which are 5 – 9 inches long turn a coppery color after frost and eventually brown by winter. It passes through most of winter a soft brown but becomes tattered and gray by February a good time to cut it back. Excellent for dried flower arrangements.