Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

The drooping seed heads hang in clusters from slightly arching stems atop an upright clump of bamboo-like foliage. Its green leaves turn copper in fall and the seed heads emerge green but turn purplish bronze by late summer then dry to a straw color.

Clumping grasses like this provide nest sites and winter cover for quail and sparrows. They also provide fall and winter seeds for a number of birds including cardinals, towhees, juncos, sparrows and finches.