Calamagrostis acutiflora Waldenbuch - Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Waldenbuch', also known as Feather Reed Grass, is a grass similar to the variety 'Karl Foerster', but which distinguishes itself by a more compact habit, both dense and vertical.  It is very elegant. Its linear and arching foliage, green at the beginning of the season, takes on a beautiful blonde to bronze hue in the autumn. This superb grass produces upright inflorescences in early summer, carried well above its foliage, in the form of narrow panicles with soft shades of brown-pink, before turning blonde at maturity. Spectacular but not invasive, it is also an accommodating and very hardy perennial, which will thrive in any ordinary and well-drained soil, preferably in the sun.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Waldenbuch' is a robust perennial grass that is sometimes called Feather Reed Grass, resulting from the hybridization between C. epigejos and C. arundinacea sometimes referred to as 'Stricta'. These grasses, belonging to the Poaceae family, are native to cold regions of Europe and temperate Asia, and generally thrive in moist soils, in the sun or partial shade, but their resistance and adaptability are extraordinary.

'Waldenbuch' forms an erect and relatively narrow clump reaching a height of 90 cm (35in) and a width of 50 cm (20in), composed of long and slender, flexible and glossy beautiful bright green leaves, which fade to a lovely yellow-bronze hue at the end of the season. The flower stems appear in June-July. They are upright, stiff, and topped with long, very fine spikes, with an intermediate shade between brown and pink, tinged with green. They are particularly beautiful when they catch the morning dew. They then take on a very bright pale yellow colour, the colour of ripe seeds, that remain decorative on the plant for a long time. Practically sterile, this plant is not prone to spreading. The deciduous foliage fades quite late in winter and is soon replaced by brand new foliage at the beginning of spring.

The hybrid Calamagrostis 'Waldenbuch' is remarkable for its very graphic silhouette that brings a vertical touch to the garden. It can be planted along a pathway, where it will not go unnoticed among displays of echinaceas, monardas, tall asters, veronicastrums, or Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'... It will also thrive near water, which reflects its beautiful bronze mane. It also adapts very well to container gardening, a method that highlights even the most modest of balconies. Sublime, suitable for almost all uses and requiring little care, it is undoubtedly one of the most appreciated grasses, as it will adapt to gardens around the world.