HELICTOTRICHON sempervirens. Blue oat grass. Europe. One of the most striking of the ornamental grasses. It produces many stiff, more or less erect stems, growing about 2’ tall, from a narrow base. The similarly rigid, narrow leaves are held nearly erect. Both leaves and stems are colored a bright blue-grey. Slender wands of rather unexciting pale flower heads are borne well above the leaves in summer. ‘Sapphire’ (one of several Americanese translations of the original German name) is distinguished by broader-than-average leaf blades, darker blue leaf and stem color, and better resistance to rust and other fungus diseases, though these afflict this species far more in areas of high humidity and summer rainfall than in California. Sun or light shade, most soils, moderate watering. Probably hardy to 0^oF. or less.