Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Perennial Feather Reed Grass By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 11, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Bryan E. McCay. Feather Reed Grass Overview Description While other ornamental grasses tend to arch outward, feather reed grass forms dense, erect clumps of narrow green leaves that send up stiff flowering stalks in summer. That means this ornamental grass adds a stunning vertical architectural element to a landscape, even in winter. Industrial areas like street medians and parking lots often feature this plant because it's easy to grow and doesn't require much maintenance to retain its sculpted appearance. As an added plus, hybrid varieties of this grass (C. x acutifolia) produce sterile seeds, which means the plants can't become invasive. What they will become is tall; with some varieties, leaves reach up to 3 feet tall, and their feathery plumes rise another 5 feet. Genus Name Calamagrostis Common Name Feather Reed Grass Plant Type Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 1 to 2 feet Flower Color Green, Pink, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Colorful Fall Foliage, Summer Bloom, Winter Interest Special Features Cut Flowers, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Good For Privacy Colorful Combinations Feather reed grass's tall, narrow stalks look best mixed in among other perennials and even other grasses. When this plant's foliage first forms in the spring, the green leaves form small clumps. (The leaves of variegated varieties may feature margins, stripes, or centers of white or cream.) As the summer season begins, tall spires of narrow blossoms appear in shades of tan, green, white, and sometimes pink, depending on the variety. The narrow blossoms open slightly to become feathery plumes of seed heads in the fall that wave softly in the breeze—and look great in cut-flower arrangements. The plants will often hold onto the plumes past fall, which adds wonderful winter interest to a garden. Explore more perks of planting ornamental grasses in your garden. Feather Reed Grass Care Must-Knows Feather reed grass is one of few ornamental grasses that tolerates moist to almost wet soils. This makes these plants a great option for rain gardens or boggy areas. Plant this grass in well-drained, fertile, rich soil that remains consistently moist. Once established, feather reed grass can tolerate occasional droughts. As a cool-season grass, this plant may appreciate some afternoon shade if grown in a warm, southern climate. Too much shade, however, will cause floppiness. Because of its sturdy upright growth, feather reed grass adds a dramatic accent to winter landscapes—especially when its plumes are left intact. If so, prune back the foliage in late winter or early spring. Divide this grass in early spring, if desired, just as new growth emerges. See our top ornamental grasses here. New Innovations Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is a variety of feather reed grass that was named perennial plant of the year in 2001. Since then there have been further introductions with similar habits and the added benefit of variegated foliage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit