Northern sea oats is a native shade grass with broad, bamboo-like leaves and flat, oat-like seed heads that dangle and catch the light, lasting well into winter. It grows about 2–3 feet tall and spreads by reseeding rather than rhizomes, so it fills in a woodland edge without much effort.

Give it part shade to full shade and average to moist soil; the clay here holds the moisture it likes. It will seed around freely, so site it where that is welcome, such as a naturalized bank or woodland margin. Cut it back in late winter before new growth starts.