- Botanical name: Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Avalanche'
- Common name: Feather reed grass
- Family: Poaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Green
Pink
Variegation
- Key features:
- Autumn colour
- Dramatic foliage
Feather reed grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora, is an upright grass with good year-round interest, bearing feathery plumes in summer and bleached stems catching frost through winter. Its architectural shape lends it to use as a striking focal point in gardens. It can form clumps of stems up to 2m high if grown in moist soil.
A variegated form of Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Avalanche’ has deep green leaves with a white stripe down the centre – the opposite variegation of Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’. They form a neat clump and turn a buff colour in autumn. produces narrow plumes of feathery, pinkish-green flowers in late summer, which also fade to a buff colour.
Grow Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Avalanche’ in moist but well-drained soil in groups in a mixed border, or en masse to form a large, dramatic screen. In early spring, cut it back to around 12cm to allow new growth to emerge.
How to grow Calamagrostis 'Avalanche'
-
Plant size
1.2m height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do Plant in March |
A
Do Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do not Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do Prune in March |
A
Do Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' and wildlife
Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' poisonous?
Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Calamagrostis 'Avalanche'
