Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster - Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster is one of the most widely planted ornamental grasses in gardens worldwide. Amateur and professional gardeners appreciate its fabulous autumn colours, the beautiful presence of its silhouette in winter, its particularly slender habit and its moving foliage, topped with beautiful spikes forming large narrow plumes, with changing metallic tones throughout the seasons. This non-invasive variety is also a particularly accommodating perennial plant that is easy to grow in any soil and under any climate. So many excellent reasons to adopt it, in small touches in flower beds, in large masses in a wild garden or even in a large pot on a contemporary-style patio!

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is a robust perennial sometimes called reed grass, resulting from hybridization between C.epigejos and C. arundinacea sometimes called 'Stricta'. These grasses, belonging to the family Poaceae and originating from cold regions of Europe and temperate Asia, generally thrive in damp soils, in full sun or partial shade. 'Karl Foerster' was named in honour of Karl Foerster, a German nurseryman, who supposedly discovered this spontaneous hybrid at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg in the 1930s. It has been available to purchase since 1950.

This Calamagrostis forms an erect tuft 1.20 m (4ft) high for the foliage and 50-60 cm (20-24in) wide, composed of long and slender, flexible and shiny, dark grey-green to slightly bluish leaves. The flower spikes appear in June-July. They are upright and stiff, 1.60 m (5ft) tall and bear long, very vertical, narrow spikes, with an intermediate shade between white-pink and bronze, tinged with green. These elegant plumes are particularly attractive in the morning dew. They then take on a more brownish colour and in autumn, a blonde and luminous colour, that of ripe seeds, that remains decorative on the plant for a long time. Practically sterile, this plant is not prone to spreading. The deciduous foliage turns a shiny yellow colour from November and dies back quite late in the season, soon replaced by brand new foliage in early spring.

Of the 250 species that make up the Calamagrostis genus, very few are interesting. On the other hand, those that have real ornamental interest are remarkably beautiful, like the acutiflora species. The hybrid calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' is remarkable for adding a vertical note to any setting. It can be planted along a pathway, where it will not go unnoticed amidst bouquets of echinaceas, monardas, tall asters, veronicastrums, or Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'... It also adapts very well to container gardening that showcases its beautiful silhouette. Suitable for almost all uses and requiring little care, this is a plant that will not disappoint!