Avena sativa
oat
An annual grass grown primarily as a cereal crop or for green manure. It has an upright, tufted growth habit, producing slender stems that bear loose, open panicles of oat grains. It typically reaches a height of between 60cm to 1.5m. The green to bluish-green leaves are narrow, linear, and grass-like, measuring approximately 20 to 40cm long and up to 1.5cm wide with a slightly rough texture. It produces small, pale green to golden flowers in loose, nodding panicles. The flowers appear from late spring to early summer (May–July) and develop into characteristic oat grains. It turns golden yellow before dying back at the end of the growing season
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Gold | |||
| Winter | Gold |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Poaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Tufted
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows well in a wide range of soil, but thrives in moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
For more information see our page on how to cut back deciduous grasses
Pests
Generally pest-free in an informal, non-agricultural setting but maybe susceptible to aphids, wireworms and cereal leaf beetles
Diseases
Generally disease-free in an informal, non-agricultural setting
Get involved
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