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| ## SEA OATS {#sea-oats .Title-Header}                                 |
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| *Uniola paniculata* (L.)                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = UNPA                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center*

![](media/image2.png){width="3.0506944444444444in"
height="2.5527777777777776in"}

Gary Fine, USDA-NRCS, 2000

**Uses**

Sea oats is exceptionally tolerant of harsh conditions associated with
coastal beach environments, such as, salt spray, short inundation of
saltwater from storm surges, strong winds, xeric soil conditions, and
rapid sand accretion. It is considered an excellent pioneering species
because its ability to rapidly establish and colonize on fore-dunes and
dune crests, and a climax species because of its ability to persist in
these extreme coastal beach conditions.

The attributes found in sea oats makes this species and excellent dune
builder and sand stabilizer. Sea oats is an excellent conservation plant
for dune building, dune enhancement, and sand stabilization on coastal
beaches and barrier islands of the Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico.

**Status**

This species is ranked on the Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species
state heritage conservation lists in Louisiana as a S2 - imperiled
because of rarity (6 to 20 known extant populations) or because of some
factors making if very vulnerable to extirpation, and a

global ranking as a G5 - demonstrably secure globally although it may be
quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery (1000 +
known extant populations).

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

**Description**

*General*: Sea oats is a native, warm-season,

semi-tropical, rhizomatous perennial, C4 grass dominating many beach and
dune environments. Culms are stout, erect 1-2 meters tall, nodes and
internodes glabrous. Leaves are both basal and cauline with blades
elongate to 60 cm long and 1.2 cm wide, both surfaces glabrous. The
inflorescence is a large open panicle 8-15 cm long with flat yellowish
spikelets, 10-20 flowered. Seed heads become a yellow-brown, straw color
in late summer and into the fall.

*Distribution*: Sea oats occurs along the U.S. coast and barrier islands
from Virginia through Florida, the Gulf coast, and south to Mexico.
However, it is uncommon in Louisiana west of the Mississippi River delta
over to Texas.

*Habitat*: Sea oats is typically found on loose sands of upper beaches,
and the more exposed and accreting areas of dunes such as foredunes and
dune crests. It is one of the few species that are able to establish and
grow in this dynamic beach zone. Sea oats thrives and is actually
stimulated where sand is actively accumulating. It is highly tolerant of
xeric conditions, but sea oats does not tolerate water logging of roots,
which will stress or kill plants within a few days. There are also
beneficial microorganisms associated with the roots of sea oats.
Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are reported to increase the
surface area of roots facilitating nutrient absorption and improving
nutrition of sea oats communities.

**Adaptation**

Sea oats is an excellent pioneering species on upper beaches,
fore-dunes, and dune crests, where loose sands accumulate. If is
tolerant of salt spray, short periods of inundation by saltwater, rapid
sand burial, and it is very drought tolerant. The extensive system of
rhizomes and roots binds and holds blowing sands.

**Establishment**

Sea oats are generally established using vegetative propagules. Freshly
dug bare-root plant divisions can be used effectively. Container grown
plant materials have been proven to be more reliable in establishing
stands. Propagation methods from plant division to micropropagation
techniques are used.

Generally, no site preparation is needed when planting vegetative plant
materials. Beach plantings are established by planting propagules on 2
to 5 feet centers. Spacing is dependent on site conditions, erosion
potential, and desired outcome of the planting. Sea oats is relatively
slow to establish, so planting faster growing companion species, such
as, bitter panicum or other desirable pioneering species is recommended.

Generally, container grown plant materials can be planted year around,
however, better results are achieved by planting mid-winter to early
spring. Bare-root propagules should be planted November through March.
Though sea oats are drought tolerant always consider site moisture
conditions before planting. Since sea oats growing season varies
considerably by geographic location, consult with local professionals
when planning sea oats plantings.

**Management**

Restrict traffic during establishment. Sea oats can be effectively
established and grow on low fertility soils without fertilization,
however, if fertilization is desired for establishment purposes, apply
3.5-4.5 actual N per and 1.0- 1.5 pounds actual P per 1,000 square feet.
Or place a slow release tablet with each plant when planting.

**Pests and Potential Problems**

There are no known serious pests associated with sea oats.

**Environmental Concerns**

There are no environmental concerns associated with sea oats. It is
highly desirable and beneficial native species.

**Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)**

The USDA NRCS Plant Materials Centers have one released one variety:

Caminada Germplasm sea oats is a pre-varietal release from the Golden
Meadow Plant Materials Center, Galliano, Louisiana, selected to provide
a plant for dune building, enhancement, and sand stabilization on
coastal beaches and barrier islands of the Gulf of Mexico.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for
more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government". The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

**References**

Duncan, W.H. and M.B. Duncan. 1987. *The Smithsonian guide to seaside
plants of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts*. Smithsonian Institution Press.
Washington, D.C. 409 pp.

Hester, M.W., and I.A. Mendelssohn. 1989. *Water relations and growth
response of Uniola paniculata (sea oats) to soil moisture and
water-table depth*. Oecologia. 78(3):298-296.

Mendelssohn, I.A., M.W. Hester, F.J. Monteferrante, and F. Talbot. 1991.
*Experimental dune building and vegetative stabilization in a
sand-deficient barrier island, setting on the Louisiana coast, USA*.
Journal of Coastal Research. 7 (1): 137-149.

Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, & C.R. Bell. 1976. *Manual of the vascular
flora of the Carolinas*. University of North Carolina Press. Chapel
Hill. 1183 pp.

Sylvia, D.M. 1986. *Spatial and temporal distribution of
vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Uniola paniculata
in Florida foredunes* Mycologia 78 (5): 728-734.

USDA, NRCS. 2006. *The PLANTS database*
([http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/), 27 December, 2006).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

USDA, SCS. 1984. *Plants for coastal dunes of the Gulf and South
Atlantic coasts and Puerto Rico*. Agricultural Bulletin 460. U.S. GPO:
1984---445-394. 41 pp.

**Prepared By**

*Gary Fine*, USDA NRCS ACES Project, Thibodaux, Louisiana

**Species Coordinator**

*Morris Houck*, USDA NRCS Louisiana State Office, Alexandria, Louisiana

Edited: 11jan2007 rhn, 01feb2007 mjh; 070209 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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