Overview
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' is a plant with a bushy habit in the genus Calamagrostis, part of the Poaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden, patio and container plants, low maintenance and flower borders and beds.
About
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' is a grass in the Poaceae family that forms upright clumps with deciduous foliage. It favours full sun and flowers from June to September. It tolerates a wide range of soils—chalk, clay, loam and sand—provided they are moist but well-drained, and suits south-, east- or west-facing sites. Rated H4 in the UK, it tolerates both exposed and sheltered positions and adapts to containers or borders.
About the genus
Calamagrostis is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae, with about 260 species that occur mainly in temperate regions of the globe. Towards equatorial latitudes, species of Calamagrostis generally occur at higher elevations. These tufted perennials usually have hairless narrow leaves.
Wikipedia contributors, "Calamagrostis", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Calamagrostis
In the garden
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' is a named cultivar within the grass family Poaceae that produces an upright, clump-forming habit with leaves that die back for winter. Flowering runs from June to September, providing a prolonged season when it carries its blooms above the foliage. Site selection favours full sun on soils that remain moist but well-drained; acceptable soil types include chalk, clay, loam and sand, and soil pH can be acid, neutral or alkaline. It suits south-, east- or west-facing positions and will tolerate both exposed and sheltered locations. The plant is rated H4 (average) for UK hardiness, so it performs reliably across most temperate garden situations. Use it in city and courtyard plantings, coastal conditions, cottage and informal beds, or in patio containers where upright form brings structure. It works well in mixed flower borders and low-maintenance schemes, where its seasonal flowering from June to September provides an extended period of interest.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Calamagrostis
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' size, habit and characteristics
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Low Maintenance, Flower borders and beds
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster'
- Propagation
- Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster'?
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' prefers full sun. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' need?
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.
Is Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' hardy in the UK?
Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster' has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Calamagrostis x ac. 'Karl Foerster'?
Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring.