About

This clump-forming, deciduous grass reaches heights of up to 1.5 meters. It features green foliage marked by a distinct white central stripe. In summer, it produces slender panicles of purplish flowers that eventually fade to a warm golden brown, remaining through the winter months.

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

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Plant type

Grass Like

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

1-1.5 metres

Spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

Architectural, Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting

Care notes

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most moist, humus-rich, well-drained fertile soils, but will tolerate all but the poorest soils

Pruning

Cut back old stems to the ground in early spring before growth resumes

Propagation

Propagate by division in mid-spring

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to a rust