Plant type: Ornamental grass
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Perhaps one of the best ornamental grasses, feather reed grass produces erect, tall but compact plants with slightly arching narrow blades and purplish plumes. It grows to three to five tall and about one to two feet wide.
How to use it: In masses, in containers or as a specimen plant. Because it has a compact habit, place in a confined space in the garden.
Culture: Prefers full sun and a moist, well-drained soil. Plant several close together as each mound does not tend to grow very wide. In spring, cut back to about four to six inches tall. Propagated by division.
Special Notes: Slow-growing ornamental grass for the shade garden. Valued for its brightly colored foliage that has a cascading habit.
Selected Cultivars
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (also called 'Stricta'). Hybrid of C. arundinacea x C. epigejos. 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year. 