Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

Sterile hybrid grass forming strict upright columns of narrow foliage topped by feather plumes that flower in early summer (earlier than most ornamental grasses) and turn straw-tan, persisting through winter.

Hardiness ratings

Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’ hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–9 −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–5 −10 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant as a vertical accent — strict upright habit at 1.5 m provides one of the most reliable architectural lines in the modern border
  • Earlier flowering than most ornamental grasses — flower plumes appear in early summer rather than autumn
  • Sterile hybrid — does not self-seed, no invasive concerns
  • Perennial Plant of the Year (USA) 2001 and a benchmark naturalistic-style grass

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’ against your zones

Reference

Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’ on Wikipedia