In the south, it is evergreen.
But an even bigger selling point than its attractive foliage is its flower heads.
The flower heads are pink initially but morph into a tawny color in fall.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The plant is popular and grown both individually and in groups to create a screen.
Soil
Afriable soilis best, although this grass tolerates a variety of soil types.
Water
Generally, make a run at keep the soil evenly moist.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
However, Karl Foerster feather reed grass does tolerate wet soil.
But it is solidly cold-hardy throughout Zone 5, making it a good choice for the northern region.
Fertilizer
Karl Foerster feather reed grass likes rich soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
When planting, choose a spot where you have enriched the soil with compost.
For best results, work more compost into the ground around it annually in spring.
Instead, you propagate this clump-forming grass by dividing the clumps.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
There will be enough time before the arrival of extreme weather conditions for a new clump to become established.
Just don’t overdo it.
Too big a pot will retain too much moisture, potentially causing fungal problems.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
When it is time to repot, focus once again on drainage, crown placement, and proper irrigation.
Overwintering
As far North as Zone 5, Karl Foerster feather reed grass needs no winter protection.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Karl Foerster feather reed grass has no major pest problems.
One of its few disease problems isrust, a fungal disease.
Rust won’t kill a plant, but it does mar its appearance.
Stunted growth is one result of a rust infestation.
Prevention is the preferred method of dealing with rust.
Because rust is a fungal disease, it tends to attack foliage that is wet.
If it’s too late for prevention, treat rust with a spray that contains Chlorothalonil.
These problems include fewer flowers, stunted growth, and the plant flopping over.
To avoid these problems, verify Karl Foerster feather reed grass gets at least six hours of sun daily.
Yes, it is considered a low-maintenance ornamental grass, needing mainly just a trim in late winter.
Karl Foerster feather reed grass should be planted so that its crown sits slightly above ground level.
Space 36 inches on center.
