Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Foerster's Feather Reed Grass
- Family
- Poaceae
- Height
- 4 to 6 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- Pink-purple tinged turning to blonde-tan
- Foliage color
- Green
- Bloom time
- May to September
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average
- Maintenance
- Low; cut back old stems to 2 to 3 inches above ground level in early spring
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts birds; deer resistant
About this plant
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' originated in Europe and was named after the renowned German nurseryman Karl Foerster. It blooms in early summer, producing narrow, upright flower spikes that emerge a soft purplish-green before maturing to a golden wheat color by late summer. The vertical form and graceful movement of the flower plumes add both structure and softness to the landscape.
What makes 'Karl Foerster' stand out is its reliably upright habit, which resists flopping even after heavy rain, maintaining a tidy, architectural silhouette. It offers year-round interest, with the golden seed heads persisting into winter, catching the light and adding texture to the garden. This grass is also known for its early bloom time compared to other ornamental grasses, making it a dynamic choice for mixed borders and naturalistic plantings.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies
Design tip
Use it as a steady framework plant, repeating it along a bed to tie separate plantings together. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
