- Botanical name: Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
- Common name: Feather reed grass
- Family: Poaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Green
Bronze
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.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is prized for its stiff, erect habit, making it an ideal choice for planting en masse to form a screen, or in small groups to add height and definition to a border. ‘Karl Foerster’ is one of the earliest perennial grasses to emerge in spring. Its green summer flowers fade to buff.
Grow Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ 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 'Karl Foerster'
-
Plant size
1.8m height
65cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
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 not Plant in March |
A
Do not 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 |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower 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 'Karl Foerster' and wildlife
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' poisonous?
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' 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 'Karl Foerster'
