Calamagrostis xacutlflora 'Karl Foerster' is a long-blooming, low maintenance, highly deer resistant, long-lived perennial grass that will thrive in either full sun or partial shade and is without a doubt one of our favorite ornamental grasses.

Karl Foerster or feather reed grass as it is commonly known, is an extremely versatile ornamental grass that works well in any garden. Calamagrostis xacutlflora 'Karl Foerster' has been called the "metamorphic grass" while others describe it as the "perpetual motion grass." The slightest breeze sets this grass in motion and the graceful movement is a highlight for any landscape. It is excellent as a specimen plant or providing a vertical accent in the landscape. Some designers use it for creating a fast developing screen. Others find that this feather reed grass is useful in patio pot containers and will survive most winters without winter protection. You can incorporate Feather Reed Grass into mixed cottage style perennial borders, use in xeric landscapes, plant in mass to form a 'sea' of grass or use as a background foundation plant.

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster grows to a mature size of 4 feet high by 2 feet wide and will grow best in well-drained fertile soil with sufficient moisture, but will tolerate heavier clay soils and drier sites. Fertilizer feather reed grass with an organic all purpose fertilizer such as Down to Earth All Purpose fertilizer or Maxicrop Liquid Kelp fertilizer to produce maximum height.  Karl Foerster requires little maintenance except to cut back the stems to about 6 inches in late winter or early spring. In areas with mild winters the foliage may remain evergreen.  At our farm, we prefer to trim our ornamental grasses back in the spring and leave the decorative plumes up for winter interest in the garden. Karl Foerster is a sturdy grass and on a mature plant the plumes will withstand considerable wind and snow. This ornamental grass is a cool-season grass, which allows planting or transplanting in spring or fall. Sterility eliminates any chance of this cultivar becoming an invasive plant or creating unwanted seedlings in the garden. Other hardy Calamagrostis include: Calamagrostis Avalanche and Calamagrostis Overdam.




A grouping of Karl Foerster ( Feather Reed Grass) growing in one of our perennial beds at our farm in Eastern Oregon. Note the warm, wheat colored plumes that are standing tall in a snow bank in the middle of December! Our farm receives rather brisk winter wind, sometimes up to 40 mph, and the graceful plumes of Karl Foerster stand tall through all of the weather!