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A mature Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) growing in a residential garden bedFoliage

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Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis x acutiflora

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass is a fast-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 4-11, that matures to about 3-5 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect cream, yellow and green blooms in fall, spring, summer and winter. It attracts butterflies and songbirds, stands up well to black walnut, deer and drought, grows happily in containers.

USDA zones
4-11
Sun
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Low
Mature size
3-5 ft
Spacing
12 inches-3 feet
Growth rate
Fast
Maintenance
Low
Soil
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry, Occasionally-wet, Very-dry
Foliage
Green
Bloom color
Cream, Yellow, Green, Purple
Bloom season
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Attracts
Butterflies, Songbirds
Tough against
Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Erosion, Pollution, Rabbits, Wet soil
Native to
Europe to Russian Far East

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

We score Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

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