'Karl Foerster' Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)
Perennial
- Compact grass with a striking impact!
- Feather reed grass creates a fast privacy screen.
- Easy to grow and thrives in nearly any soil.
- Long-lasting blooms add a contrast in texture.
- Zones 4-8, sun, 60" tall x 24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
In his book Designing with Plants, Piet Outdolf refers to Karl Foerster grass as "most upright of the grasses, which bends in the wind, making it almost weatherproof... spire-shaped flowerheads add lift to the garden, severing its bonds with the earth." This grass was introduced to the nursery trade in 1950 by German nurseryman Karl Foerster via Hamburg Botanical Garden. It came to the United States by way of Denmark in 1964. Wolfgang Oehme and Kurt Bluemel were influential in introducing this popular grass to the US market.
Details
Common name: Feather reed grass
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 60" x 24"
Flower color: Tan
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Early summer
Bloom time: Midsummer, fall
Features: Winter interest, rain gardens, heat tolerant, dry soils, drought tolerant, deer resistant
Uses: Accent, background, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, foundation planting, hedge, massing, ornamental, privacy & screening
How to Grow
Light: Sun to part-sun. More sun exposure may increase blooms, but they do appreciate some shade in hot climates.
Water: Soils should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out.
Spacing: 2-3 ft.
Fertilizing: Most ornamental grasses need very little fertilizer. It is best to base any fertilizer applications on the results of a soil test.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut clumps to the ground in late winter just before the new shoots appear. Clumps may be divided in spring every 4 to 5 years. If ornamental grasses are not divided, they eventually become thin or die out in the center.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.