About
Calamagrostis purpurea is a perennial grass characterized by its erect growth, forming compact clumps that can attain heights of up to 1.2 meters. The foliage consists of slender, linear, and smooth leaves, while summer brings the emergence of airy, purple-hued flower plumes.
About the genus
Calamagrostis consists of sturdy perennial grasses that spread through rhizomes, producing clumps of narrow leaves. During the summer, upright stems develop dense, branched flowering panicles.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Grass Like
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Subarctic & Subalpine
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in humus-rich but well drained soil in full sun. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice
- Pruning
- For more information see our page on how to cut back deciduous grasses
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing seeds outdoors or divide in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free