Reed Grass ‘Karl Foerster’

Common Name: Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Scientific Name: Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

Zone: 4 to 9

Blossom Colour: Greenish‑purple panicles aging to golden‑tan

Flowering Type: Early summer; seed heads persist into winter

Summer Colour: Upright, medium‑green blades with tawny flowering spikes

Fall Colour: Foliage turns straw‑gold; flower stalks remain erect and buff‑colored

Mature Height (ft): 4 to 6 (to the top of plumes)

Mature Spread (ft): 2 to 3

Exposure: Full Sun (tolerates very light shade)

Tree Type: Ornamental Clump‑forming Grass (deciduous)

Watering: Moderate; prefers moist, well‑drained soil but handles some drought once established

Fertilization: Generally not required; a light application of balanced slow‑release fertilizer or compost in early spring can boost vigor in poor soils