Feather reedgrass

'Karl Foerster' is the best known of the feather reedgrasses and boasts all the key elements of this beautiful, useful ornamental grass. While other ornamental grasses tend to arch outward, feather reedgrass tends to grow straight and upright, giving an architectural element to the landscape, even in winter, as long as you leave it standing.

Feather reedgrass produces tiny flowers in early summer. Seed heads mature to golden tan by midsummer and remain attractive into fall. Cut back in late winter or early spring as soon as new growth is detected at the base.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

3-5 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-2 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Privacy

Special Features:

Flowers,Fall Color,Winter Interest,Cut Flowers,Dried Flowers,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Karl Foerster' feather reedgrass

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is the most widely available form. It develops a stiff 5-foot-tall column of dark green leaves topped by warm tan seedstalks.
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Korean feather reedgrass

Calamagrostis brachytricha, which is also known as foxtailgrass for its plumes of seed heads in fall, needs more moisture than feather reedgrass. Cut the seed heads for use in fresh or dried flower arrangements.
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Garden Plans

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Burst of Summer Color Garden Plan
Hot-Color, Hot-Weather Garden Plan
A Simple, Late-Summer Perennial Garden Plan
Low-Water Garden Plan
Tiny Corner Garden Plan
Easy-Care Summer Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Aster

Mounds of pink, purple, or white asters look great in the fall garden surrounding the upright form of feather reedgrass.

Sedum

Tall sedums, such as 'Autumn Joy', with their rosy blooms that mature brown, create a stunning muted fall color scheme when paired with feather reedgrass.

Coneflower

For a knockout sunny summer combination, plant purple coneflower next to feather reedgrass.

Propagation

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Seed
Division