Feather Reed Grass

Fri, 09/23/2011 - 11:50am — Kathy Ormiston
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Botanical Name: 
Calamagrostis acutifolia 'Stricta'
Pronunciation: 
(kal-ah-mah-GROSS-tiss ah-kew-tih-FLOOR-ah)
Common Name: 
Feather Reed Grass
Plant Type: 
Grass
Mature Size: 
2-3 ft.. tall and wide, flowers to 6 ft.
Water Requirements: 
Low: water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet
Sun/Shade Requirements: 
Full to half sun
Flower Color : 
Taupe

Calamagrostis is a wonderful vertical accent in the garden. We have used two plants to mark an entryway to the garden. They can also be massed to make a low growing screen.

In late winter we have cut these grasses back to several inches above the ground to renew the plants. Other years we have simply raked out the old growth in the spring. Either way, these grasses are extremely low maintenance plants with a big impact in the garden.