Calamagrostis x 'Karl Foerster'
Feather Reed Grass
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Plant Family:
Poaceae
Grass
Flower:
Pink
Blooms :
Jul
to:
Aug
Open, feathery, pinkish-white flower heads in loosely branched, upright, panicle up to 12 inches long
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
No
Foliage:
Green
Deciduous
Pat Kolling
Arching, shiny, simple, lanceolate with entire margins that emerge from the soil usually without a stem
Oregon Native?
No
West State Native?
No
Europe, Asia, Africa and Eurasia, China, India. Introduced in 1950, C. x acutiflora is a natural hybrid of C. arundinacea and C. epigejos discovered by Karl Foerster at Hamburg Botanical Gardens in 1930. Seed is sterile
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
4
Water Needs:
L
Sun Needs:
Full Sun
Deer Resistant?
Yes
Firewise?
No
Height:
3 - 6'
Spread:
12-24"
Growth Rate:
Fast
Native Habitat:
This hybrid occurs naturally, but somewhat infrequently, in Europe. Calamagrostis, commonly known as reed grass, is a genus consisting of about 250 species of cool season grasses which are primarily native to moist to wet areas in temperate regions of the
Soil:
Prefers rich, consistently moist soils that do not dry out, heavy clay soils with less moisture; size of plant depends on moisture supply; grows larger with increased moisture levels and in cooler climates.
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Medium
Fertilizer:
Mulch:
Long Term:
Ultimate size dependent on the amount of water received, how long it grows before divisions are taken, and soil fertility
Winter:
Grasses do not need to be cut down before winter. In fact, they are attractive when left standing and the foliage helps to insulate the crown of the plant.
Spring:
Cut back the foliage to about 4-6 inches in the spring before growth resumes. Aggressively remove thatch at base of plant. When foliage is removed, spring growth will begin earlier. Old foliage left on the plant can delay the crown?s warming and subsequen
Summer:
In hotter situations with less than optimum moisture, summer heat may cause feather reed grass to enter summer dormancy.
Fall:
Common Problems
Diseases:
Host to several rust fungi in the genus Puccinia including P. coronata, Oat Crown Rust, and P. pygmaea
Insects:
Also called: