Grass Reed ‘Karl Foerster’
Grass Reed ‘Karl Foerster’
Grass Reed ‘Karl Foerster’

Grass Reed ‘Karl Foerster’

Pépinière Lemay Nursery

$19.99
Title

Add effortless vertical drama and year-round movement to your garden with the "world's most popular ornamental grass." Known for its strictly upright, skyscraper-like habit, 'Karl Foerster' features lush green blades that sway gracefully in the breeze. In early summer, it sends up feathery flower plumes that emerge in a soft bronze-pink before maturing into shimmering, wheat-coloured spires. These golden "architectural towers" remain perfectly stiff and upright through summer storms and winter snow, providing a sophisticated, modern edge to any landscape.

Images Courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company of Ball Seed or www.ballseed.com

 
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

5' H x 2' W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

Medium to High

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Fast

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Feather Reed Grass, Foerster's Grass

Scientific Name:

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

Type:

Ornamental Perennial Grass

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 3–5 feet tall (with plumes) and 2 feet wide.
  • Growth Habit/Form: Strictly upright, columnar, and clump-forming; non-invasive and does not reseed.
  • Growth Rate: Fast; one of the first grasses to turn green in the spring.
  • Longevity: Long-lived perennial; clumps remain tidy for years without needing division.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun (Preferred) to Partial Shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils but is remarkably unfussy.
  • Soil Tolerance: One of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in heavy clay; also tolerates sandy or wet soils.
  • Watering: Prefers regular watering; can handle occasional standing water but becomes drought-tolerant once established.

Special Features:

Deer and Rabbit Resistant; Black Walnut Tolerant; Clay Soil Tolerant; No-Reseeding (sterile seeds).
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Feathery bronze plumes in June/July that mature into golden-tan wheat-like spikes.
  • Fall Colour: Foliage turns a tan-gold colour.
  • Winter Interest: The golden seed heads and vertical stalks persist all winter, providing striking architectural interest against the snow.

Garden Value:

A premier vertical accent for modern gardens, mass plantings, or as a living screen. It is perfect for narrow spaces, heavy clay areas, or as a "backdrop" for flowering perennials.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Provides excellent cover and nesting material for birds; seed heads are often visited by small songbirds in winter.
  • Human Value: Provides a "no-fail" vertical element for landscapes; excellent for dried floral arrangements.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time: Spring or Fall.
  • Spacing: Space 18–24 inches apart for a continuous "hedge" or massed look.
  • Location Tips: Exceptional for wind-prone areas as the stalks are incredibly sturdy and rarely break or flop.

Care:

  • Light: Thrives in full sun; at least 6 hours of direct light is needed to prevent the stalks from flopping.
  • Moisture: Prefers consistent moisture but is incredibly adaptable to varied conditions.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance; cut the entire clump back to 3–6 inches above the ground in late winter or very early spring before new green shoots appear.
  • Fertilization: Apply a general-purpose balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth resumes.

Tolerances:

Clay soil, wet soil, air pollution, black walnut, and wind.

Tips For Success:

If the center of the clump begins to die out after many years, divide the plant in early spring. Mulching helps retain the moisture this grass loves during hot summer spells.
Fruit Profile