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Feather Reed Grass Wikimedia Commons
Poaceae

Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis × acutiflora

Structure and grace in motion.

Family
Poaceae
Genus
Calamagrostis
Native to
Hybrid origin (Europe)
Bloom season
Summer
Type
ornamental grass
Height
3-5 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
adaptable, tolerates clay
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The cultivar 'Karl Foerster' was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2001 and remains one of the most popular ornamental grasses worldwide.
  • As a sterile hybrid, feather reed grass never self-seeds, making it a well-behaved garden plant unlike some invasive grasses.
  • Karl Foerster, the German nurseryman for whom the popular cultivar is named, spent his life promoting the use of grasses in garden design.
  • The flower plumes emerge pinkish-purple in early summer and gradually age to golden wheat color by autumn.
  • Its strongly vertical habit earned it the nickname 'the exclamation point of the garden' among landscape designers.

Color meanings

0

flexibility

1

resilience

Uses

  • ornamental grass borders
  • screens
  • dried arrangements
  • modern landscape design