Feather Reed Grass 'Karl Foerster'

Calamagrostis xacutlflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is a long-blooming, low maintenance, long-lived perennial grass for full sun to partial shade. This grass grows best in well-drained fertile soils with sufficient moisture, but will tolerate heavier clay soils and drier sites. Fertilizer may be required to produce maximum height. Low fertility will result in shorter plants. It is usually free of serious disease or insect problems although a foliar rust disease can occur in wet summers in situations with poor air circulation. Little maintenance is required 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. 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 create unwanted seedlings in the garden.²

Plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Karl Foerster is thought of as very hardy, so this plant will tend to survive through freezing conditions. A soil ph of between 6.1 and 7.8 is ideal for Karl Foerster as it does best in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil.

The seeds are sterile, which means the plant won’t self-seed. Divide in spring and early fall.

Ensure a seed sowing distance of 2.47 feet (76.0 cm).

As Karl Foerster is very hardy, ensure temperatures are mild enough to plant out - wait until after your last frost date to be on the safe side.

Calamagrostis xacutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is reported to be a natural hybrid of Calamagrostis epigejos and Calamagrostis arundinacea. It was introduced to the nursery trade and general public in 1950 by Karl Foerster in his book Einzag der Graeser and Fame die Gaerten (The Use of Grasses and Ferns in the Garden), under the name of Calamagrostis epigejos ‘Hortorum’. According to Mr. Foerster, the source for the plant was the Hamburg Botanical Garden. The Foerster Nursery also listed this grass in their 1939 catalog but as an annual, not a perennial, grass. It was imported into the United States from Denmark in 1964. Since that time, this highly acclaimed ornamental grass has been distributed and has grown well in hardiness zones from 4 to 9.²

Karl Forester

Feather Reed Grass

¹ http://www.bluestem.ca/calamagrostis-karl-foerster.htm

² http://www.perennialplant.org/ppy/01ppy.html