Variegated feather reed grass 'Overdam'

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; flowering and upright growth are best with at least six hours of sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established clumps tolerate short dry spells, but water during prolonged drought, especially in hot weather.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates clay if it is not persistently waterlogged. Performs best in moderately fertile soil.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), including flower stems

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer, depending on climate; narrow pinkish-purple plumes fade to tan and then straw-gold.

Foliage

Narrow green leaves with creamy-white margins, sometimes pink-tinged in cool spring weather. The pale margins become less conspicuous as the season advances.

Growth

Moderate; starts growing early in spring.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.3 ft (0.69 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (1 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water regularly through the first growing season, allowing excess water to drain away.
• Water established plants during prolonged dry spells to limit brown leaf tips and early dormancy.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages floppy growth.
• Mulch around the clump, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide congested clumps in early spring, usually every three to five years or when the centre becomes bare.

Pruning. Leave the dry stems standing over winter, then cut the whole clump back to 4-6 in (10-15 cm) above the ground in late winter or very early spring. Cut before fresh shoots grow tall enough to be damaged.

Late winter

Cut back old stems before new growth begins.

Early spring

Plant or divide clumps while the soil is workable and growth is starting.

Spring

Add a thin compost dressing and renew mulch without covering the crown.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather and check for rust on the leaves.

Autumn

Leave sound flower stems standing for structure rather than cutting them down.

Winter

Remove stems flattened by storms if they are smothering nearby plants.

• Repeat clumps through a perennial border to create upright rhythm among rounded flowers.
• Plant with purple coneflowers, salvias and sedums for contrasting flower shapes and a long season of interest.
• Use in narrow beds beside paths or terraces where a compact clump provides height without much width.
• Mass in informal drifts, allowing low sunlight to catch the pale leaves and winter stems.

Garden styles it suits: New perennial (prairie), Modern, Architectural minimal, Cottage garden, Winter interest and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Perennial salvia, Autumn stonecrop, Cranesbill geranium, Black-eyed Susan and Siberian iris.

Wildlife: Standing clumps provide shelter for insects and other small animals. The flowers are wind-pollinated rather than a nectar source, and this sterile hybrid does not provide a useful seed crop for birds.

• Rust can cause orange-brown pustules on leaves: improve airflow, avoid wetting foliage when watering and remove affected debris.
• Brown tips or early browning in hot, dry weather: water deeply and mulch; choose a cooler position with afternoon shade in hot climates.
• Flopping stems in shade or overly rich soil: provide more sun and reduce nitrogen feeding.
• A thinning or dead centre in an older clump: lift and divide in early spring, replanting healthy outer sections.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. Coarse leaves and dry stems can cause minor physical irritation if chewed or handled.

• Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster' (Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')

  Its leaves are plain green, and it generally grows taller than 'Overdam'.

• Feather reed grass 'Avalanche' (Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Avalanche')

  Its leaves have a broad white central stripe with green margins; 'Overdam' has green centres and pale margins.

• Feather reed grass 'Eldorado' (Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Eldorado')

  Its leaves have a golden-yellow central stripe rather than the creamy-white margins of 'Overdam'.

Calamagrostis combines Greek words for reed and grass, referring to the plant's reed-like appearance.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in early spring, keeping several healthy shoots and roots in each piece. This sterile hybrid is propagated by division, not seed.

Accepted botanical name

Calamagrostis acutiflora

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.