Rough reedgrass
Calamagrostis arundinacea · Poaceae
📷 James K. Lindsey · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Rough reedgrass is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Calamagrostis arundinacea
- Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
- Foliage
- Deciduous, finely linear
- Flowering
- August to September, golden spikelets
- Mature size
- Approximately 150 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast, well established in 2-3 years
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20°C
- Origin
- Central and Eastern Europe
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Calamagrostis arundinacea tolerates partial shade but gets denser with 4-5 hours of sun. Only cut it back in late winter (February-March) just above the young shoots: it'll come back with renewed plumage.
The common mistake
Cutting it back too early (autumn) or too late (April), which weakens it or delays regrowth.
The pro's trick
Leave the dry foliage in place all winter: it protects the plant and gives you a lovely structural effect in cream-and-russet tones.
Seasonal watch
Autumn: no particular concerns, very hardy; if you cut it back as early as September, it won't regrow compact.
Care
Light
Install your calamagrostis in partial shade, though full sun is well tolerated. A bright environment promotes better foliage density and more generous flowering. It also adapts well to partial shade in cool soil.
Watering
This grass prefers regularly moist but well-drained soil. Water moderately during the growing period, especially the first two years. Once established, it tolerates dry spells better, but fears overly dry soil in summer.
Soil
Plant it in rich, fertile, and well-structured soil. It appreciates slightly acidic to neutral terrain and fears prolonged waterlogging. Adding compost at planting improves rooting and vigor.
Pruning and cleanup
Cut back your calamagrostis in late winter or early spring, before the growing season resumes. Cut to about 10-15 cm from the ground to remove dry stems. You can also prune lightly in summer after flowering to maintain a compact shape.
Fertilizing
An annual application of well-decomposed compost in spring is generally sufficient. In poor soil, a balanced slow-release fertilizer applied at the start of growth supports vitality. Avoid excess nitrogen, which can weigh down the foliage.
Diseases and pests
Very hardy and rarely subject to disease. In overly wet or poorly aerated soil, rot may appear. Maintain good air circulation and avoid waterlogging. Rarely attacked by common pests.
Did you know?
Calamagrostis is among the ornamental "feathery" grasses highly prized in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, where it was used to garnish the dried bouquets of European nobility. Its light habit and graceful foliage make it a classic choice in contemporary gardens for structuring space and creating movement.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.