Tall oat grass is also known as Danthonia spicata, wild oats or spear grass. These synonyms refer to a perennial cool-season grass that is native to North America. Another common synonym for tall oat grass is poverty oat grass because it thrives in poor soils and is often found in low-income areas. Additionally, the grass is sometimes referred to as oat stem because of its upright growth habit and thin stems. It is also classified as a bunch grass, meaning it grows in dense, clumping formations. Other variations of the plant include dwarf oat grass and slender oat grass, which refer to smaller or more slender cultivars.