Calamagrostis acutiflora
Riding grass
Common names: Garden riding grass
Photo: Bildoj · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Riding grass is a tall, upright ornamental grass that provides structure to the garden from June through winter with its slender stems. The 'Karl Foerster' variety is one of the most popular grasses in German gardens because it displays its narrow, upright flower panicles as early as mid‑June (week 25), much earlier than most other ornamental grasses. The stems remain upright in winter, bearing frost and snow, before being cut back in spring. Riding grass forms upright clumps and does not spread aggressively, making it well suited for fixed planting schemes. Botanically, the species is Calamagrostis acutiflora; the German name is sufficient in the garden.
Care instructions
Riding grass prefers a sunny to, at most, slightly shaded position and a well‑drained, fertile soil. Water newly planted clumps regularly during the first weeks; older plants can tolerate shorter dry periods. Cut back the stems only in early spring, roughly late February to mid‑March (weeks 9 to 11), just before new growth begins; this preserves the winter structure for a long time. Every three to four years, the clump can be divided in spring, which keeps it vigorous and prevents it from becoming woody in the center. A mulch layer in autumn protects the roots further, but is usually unnecessary for established plants.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, nutrient-rich, moist, humus-rich
Feeding
Medium feeder
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