Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
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.
Grow Calamagrostis x acutiflora in moist but well-drained soil, 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.
Plant calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Plant
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Flowers
yes
yes
yes
yes
Divide
yes
Prune
yes
yes
Calamagrostis and wildlife
Calamagrostis has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.