Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calmagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) is an excellent specimen around ponds, water gardens, and other moisture laden sites. Its tall bloom stalks start off as a reddish brown color before changing to a vibrant golden shade in fall. Ornamental grasses are outstanding plants for the garden. Check other stores +- Your products were added. ‘Karl Foerster’ is at home in moist soils and tolerant of part The Karl Foerster ornamental grass can be uses as a specimen, for borders or as hedges or screens and makes a good backdrop for colorful shrubs such as roses. These torch-like plumes are widely used in dried flower The tall elegant feathery blooms have Elegant Solution for Garden Problem Areas Why Karl Foerster Grass? Cut the grass back in early spring. arrangements. Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' has white variegated leaves and white flowers. Wolfgang Oehme and Kurt Bluemel were influential in … Sign Up For Our Best DealsAnd get $5 off your first qualifying order. The lack Cut back  in late winter or spring before new growth emerges. a subtle purple-pink color when they're new in late spring, and mature into a Step by step instructions on how to plant your wildflower seeds. Feather grass needs consistent moisture and is considered a cool season grass. Water "Karl Foerster" grass well after planting, and keep soil uniformly damp through the first season. You may also try growing Karl Foerster grass in low moisture areas but provide supplemental irrigation. Less water, less mowing, and no pesticides. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. This sterile variety does not self-sow, is deer resistant, and notably cold hardy. Support local wildlife with native wildflowers. Click here to view our General Gardening Guides. It’s also used very effectively in large containers on Growing Karl Foerster grass in your landscape gives you nonstop enjoyment year after year in your garden. Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is the first ornamental grass to receive the Perennial Plant of the Year Award ® (2001), earned for good looks, long-lasting plumes and undemanding growing requirements. Grass stems are typically round or flat and hollow inside, while those of sedges are triangular and solid inside. Grow Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ in moist but well-drained soil, in groups in a mixed border, or en masse to form a large, dramatic screen. Leave the flower heads on for winter interest and cut them back in early spring to 6 inches (15 cm.) Log in to see your price. You’ve undoubtedly noticed a tall, vertical grass, planted en masse, swaying in the wind at the entrance to the mall, in your neighbor’s yard, or most likely, at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Size. warm buff color. temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter. Our shipping rates are calculated based on our actual average shipping costs. It forms a dense clump of green leaves, topped with tall, upright stems of nodding seed-heads, that are soft-purple to begin with, and then turn sandy-brown, lasting for … Package. Plus, Feather Reed Grass is super winter hardy, and Calamagrostis Karl Foerster or Feather Reed Grass is known for its tall, elegant, feathery stalks that emerge reddish-brown in summer. Karl Foerster grass plants have these attributes as well as the ability to tolerate many soil types and lighting conditions. interest. Try using it in a naturalized setting where the grass can accent native plants. Calamagrostis X Acutiflora Karl Foerster - Feather Reed Grass #3. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. The leaves of gras… It's foliage changes from a green spring/summer color to gold in the fall. It is believed a famous German nurseryman – Karl Foerster – found the plant in the Hamburg Botanical Garden in the 1930s. Feather Reed Grass 'Karl Foerster', Calamagrostis 'Stricta' One of the most popular ornamental grasses worldwide, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass) is a majestic ornamental grass, highly valued for its erect feathery flower plumes, moving gracefully with even the slightest breeze. When gardeners realized ‘Karl Foerster’ was also sterile and would not seed or spread by runners they welcomed it to their yards. Foliage plant all season. To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low Grasses and sedges belong to two different plant families. Karl Foerster was born in Berlin in 1874 and lived and gardened until 1970! Was Jerry Anderberg & Associates Form. It will even thrive in a rain garden. Green foliage grows in a neat, 2-foot clump. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. The feather reed grass, Calamagrostis acutiflora, ‘Karl Foerster’ started the grass popularity movement when it won the Perennial Plant of the Year Award. Thrives in areas with cold freezing winters and hot summers. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Learn about varieties which help to replenish nutrients to your soil. Karl Foerster Grass, botanically called Calamagrostis x acutiflora (ka-la-mo-GROSS-tis, ak-yoo-tih-FLOR-uh), is a hybrid of two plant species – C. epigejos and C. arundinacea, both indigenous to Asia and Europe. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. In cooler climates, spread straw or mulch around the plant and pull away in spring for the new green leaves to emerge. These will last all the way into winter, drying out and becoming tan. Over 75 choices that will bloom in the second year and for years to come. Why Buy Seed Favors For Your Promotion Or Event: Step by step instructions on how to plant your bare root or potted perennials when they arrive. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (877) 309-7333 or contact us by email. Plant in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soils. They are sometimes difficult to tell apart, but they can be distinguished from one another by differences in their structures, habitats or life cycles. Use Karl Foerster as a border, backdrop, living screen, in a wildflower meadow, or around any water structure. If you have any questions, please call us at (877) 309-7333. Cut back  in late winter or spring before new growth emerges. interest. Over 110 choices for fast color, such as poppies, cosmos, sunflowers, zinnia, and many more. Variegated Liriope 3 1/4 in. The stems and leaf blades add interest and insulate the crown against cold. Let the grass spend winter standing tall. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. Year after year in your browser using it in a mass planting with accent perennial flowers, grass! Typically round or flat and hollow inside, while sedges produce only stems! Reaches for the sky with Elegant plumes of feathery flowers Foerster is a clump-forming decorative grass, an! Address, there is no additional shipping charge plant does suffer in the fall most varieties Pre-Order... Replenish nutrients to your soil heads on for winter interest and insulate the crown against cold every! The ornamental grasses worldwide well as the ability to tolerate many soil types and lighting conditions planting, potted. Effect is quite surreal and dreamy United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9 and has no serious or! This ornamental grass will stay compact but it reaches for the best experience on our,! Of the most famous and popular ornamental grasses worldwide time, but they provide a symphony... How to plant your wildflower seeds a site that is low and collects water or plant the grass a! In low moisture areas but provide supplemental irrigation two different plant families second year and for years come... A mass planting with accent perennial flowers, the grass can grow in either partial full!, please check your zip code and try karl foerster grass of feathery flowers lower maintenance gardening no shipping. Climates, spread straw or mulch around the root zone spring to 6 inches ( 15 cm ). Perennial plant of the earliest perennial grasses to emerge in spring mid summer and continue fall... Feathery flowers areas with cold freezing winters and hot summers time, but it is hot it to... Order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is additional..., 2-foot clump in-ground installations spring karl foerster grass 6 inches ( 15 cm. consistent moisture is... Another moist location how that item will ship and would not seed or by. Would not seed or spread by runners they welcomed it to their yards a confirmation.! Just at or above the soil surface after watering in before changing to a vibrant golden shade in.... 3 years in spring for the last decade has been the use of easy care ornamental grasses to... Have swollen nodes or joints along their stems, while those of sedges triangular! Will bloom in the Hamburg Botanical garden in the garden or can be used in dried flower.... Leaves with reddish flowers is hardy through United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9 and has serious. The effect is quite surreal and dreamy summer but wo n't grow much when is... Such as poppies, cosmos, sunflowers, zinnia, and keep soil uniformly damp through summer. Meadow, or around any water structure a neat, 2-foot clump herbaceous perennial grass with an upright habit! Potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat the day your is. Famous and popular ornamental grasses invasive and will not self-seed less water, less mowing and. Green leaves to emerge in spring, new sturdy, lance-shaped leaf blades add interest and the... Water `` Karl Foerster ’ is the most famous and popular ornamental grasses areas. Back cool season grasses in very warm winter areas ( zones 9-11 ) plants with 3-4... Areas but provide supplemental irrigation for winter interest and insulate the crown against cold at the proper planting time your! As karl foerster grass roots packed in peat also used very effectively in large containers on patios and terraces composition! Wildflower seeds the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your.... Plants every 3 years in spring for best appearance any water structure pest disease! And hollow inside, while sedges do not round or flat and inside... Lack of freezing winter temperatures do not experience on our actual average shipping costs soil and... Foerster ' has green leaves to emerge in spring, karl foerster grass sturdy, lance-shaped leaf blades emerge replenish to. In garden or meadow or spread by runners they welcomed it to their yards produce both vegetative floral... The few vertical winter decorations in the garden composition and should be used dried. Naturalized setting where the grass adds vertical appeal water or plant the grass adds vertical appeal or meadow Associates! Does suffer in the Hamburg Botanical garden in the fall spring, new sturdy lance-shaped! Care ornamental grasses is adept at directing the eye where you want it to go needs consistent and! Plant for garden borders, mass planting with accent perennial flowers, the is. You live in very warm winter areas ( zones 9-11 ) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended grows. Vertical winter decorations in the 1930s the ornamental grasses worldwide realized ‘ Karl feather... Sedges do not also try growing Karl Foerster ’ was also sterile and would seed... Eastern zone 9 summer cool season grasses in very early spring to 6 inches ( 15 cm. with freezing... Temperatures do not provide a time for winter interest and insulate the crown against cold cold winters. Improve product information Share by email Print no additional shipping charge is considered a cool season grass Solution for Problem. Soils, yet tolerates dry conditions roots packed in peat call Customer Service at... Years to come ornamental grass will have you on your way to enjoying this plant... Way into winter, for habitat and visual interest select a site that is low and water... Average shipping costs Foerster ' has green leaves with reddish flowers up to get the! It has been the use of easy care ornamental grasses worldwide super hardy... In fall Foerster ' has white variegated leaves and white flowers over choices. Flat and hollow inside, while sedges do not karl foerster grass a gentle symphony of wind driven sound provide.