sea oats

noun

1. a tall grass, Uniola paniculata, of coastal areas of southeastern North America, having as its inflorescence a densely crowded panicle, used to control sand erosion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea oats¹

1890–95; Americanism

Example Sentences

Planted around the base of the vine maple, the bold foliage of a hosta or three creates a visual still point and offers contrast to the fine texture of Northern sea oats.

From Seattle Times

As the weather cools, the dangling seed heads and foliage of the sea oats change from green to gold to a coppery brown, standing in the winter landscape unless it gets knocked back by snow.

From Seattle Times

Around 100 horses roam in the Corolla herd and have adapted to eating sea oats, persimmons, acorns and other native grasses on the island, the News & Observer reported.

From Fox News

There are glimpses of what was meant to be, a clump of northern sea oats here, a goldenrod there, but all is now smothered in invasive vines and brambles and miscanthus grasses.

From Washington Post

Officials in Panama City Beach on Tuesday introduced a program that allows tourists during their visit to help build homes and plant sea oats in the sand dunes of neighboring Mexico Beach, which was demolished by the category 5 storm.

From Washington Times