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Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' (Karl Foerster feather reed grass)

Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' Photo/Illustration: Santa Rosa Gardens


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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Common Name: Karl Foerster feather reed grass Genus: Calamagrostis

This versatile ornamental grass has slender, upright, deep-green foliage. A cool season grass, it is upright and clump forming, with purplish-green, feathery plumes that can reach 6 feet in height. It blooms in early summer rather than fall and must have winter chill to bloom.



Information provided by Santa Rosa Gardens.


Care: Annual maintenance consists of cutting the old growth down in early spring before new growth starts. Reed grass grows out from the center, and after a few years, you may discover a hole-in-the-doughnut effect. When this happens, dig the plant up and divide it. Preferred time for dividing is in spring.
Height 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Spread 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Growth Habit Clumps
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Medium Moisture
Tolerance Deer Tolerant;Drought Tolerant
Characteristics Showy Foliage; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time Early Summer; Summer
Flower Color Purple/ Lavender Flower
Uses Hedge, Screening
Seasonal Interest Spring Interest, Summer Interest
Type Grasses

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