{"title":"Helictotrichon","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking fountain of steel-blue foliage that holds its colour all season. Loves full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"helictotrichon-sempervirens-sapphire","title":"Helictotrichon 'Sapphire'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eHelictotrichon 'Sapphire'\u003c\/em\u003e: Spiky Sapphire Fountains That Stay Put\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue Oat Grass sits in the border like a perfectly round, steel-blue pincushion. Stiff silver-blue blades that never wander off into the neighbour's bed. KNOWS ITS LANE. STAYS IN IT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eHelictotrichon sempervirens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sapphire' (also sold as 'Saphirsprudel')\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue Oat Grass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60–100 cm (24–40 in); foliage about 60 cm (24 in), flower stems to about 100 cm (40 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50–60 cm (20–24 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slender, oat-like sprays that open bluish and age to tan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early to late summer (June to August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stiff, narrow, steel-blue to silver-blue blades in a dense, rounded clump. Semi-evergreen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rabbit resistant, clump-forming, non-spreading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use it as a cool blue accent at the front or middle of a sunny border, in a rock or gravel garden, on a slope or in a large container, and plant it in a row or loose group for a steady rhythm. On heavy clay, use a raised bed or a slope, because wet winter soil is the one thing it can't forgive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 'Sapphire' in a sunny, dry bed where its steel-blue fountain sets off hot pink, orange and violet. \u003cem\u003eDianthus Glamour Time™\u003c\/em\u003e edges the front with hot pink pinks at 15 to 20 cm from June to September. \u003cem\u003eSalvia Sallyrosa™ April Night\u003c\/em\u003e adds violet-purple spikes at 30 to 35 cm from May to September. \u003cem\u003eEchinacea KISMET® 'Intense Orange'\u003c\/em\u003e brings orange coneflowers at 40 to 45 cm from June to October. \u003cem\u003eCentaurea dealbata\u003c\/em\u003e adds rosy-pink cornflowers at 45 to 75 cm in June and July.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in full sun, in well-drained, average to lean soil. Neutral to alkaline soil is fine. The colour is best in full sun. Water through the first season, then only in long droughts. Skip the fertilizer. Don't shear it to the ground. In spring, put on gloves and comb out the dead blades with your fingers, or trim off any brown tips. Cut the old flower stems once they look tired. Wet, heavy soil can rot the crown, especially in winter. If the centre of an older clump dies out, divide it in spring and replant the healthy outer pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue oat grass is native to dry, rocky slopes in the mountains of southern Europe, and \u003cem\u003esempervirens\u003c\/em\u003e means evergreen. 'Sapphire' is the English name for the German selection 'Saphirsprudel', which growers list as bluer than the species, with better heat tolerance and better resistance to rust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pair it with hot pinks or deep purples and let the blue do the cooling. No deer, no rabbits, no spreading. THE ONLY SAPPHIRE THAT DOESN'T NEED INSURANCE.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ornamental Grasses","offers":[{"title":"1 Gallon Pot \/ 4","offer_id":67851568972054,"sku":"HELISA01","price":24.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Helictotrichonsempervirens_Sapphire.png?v=1744732992"}],"url":"https:\/\/blacksheepperennials.com\/collections\/helictotrichon.oembed","provider":"Black Sheep Perennials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}