Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 90cm

Eventual Spread: 75cm

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Poaceae

Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’, commonly known as Fountain Grass ‘Fairy Tales’, is a deciduous grass with a clump forming, upright habit. The species Pennisetum orientale is native to North West Asia and North Africa. In its native habitat it grows in open grass land. Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’ flowers appear white/ pink, fading to light brown. Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’ may be used as part of a prairie type planting scheme. This grass may be tidied up in spring, removing old stems to ground level.

Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’ (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Pennisetum orientale ‘Fairy Tales’ Flower (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Landscape Architecture

Bothriochloa bladhii

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 1m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Poaceae

Bothriochloa bladhii, commonly known as Australian Bluestem or Caucasian Bluestem, is a deciduous perennial grass with a clump forming habit. Bothriochloa bladhii is synonymous with Bothriochloa caucasica and is native to Africa, tropical and temperate Asia, and Australia. In its native habitat it grows in open grasslands. Its mid green to light leaves may turn red in autumn. Its flowers appear green to purple in late summer. Bothriochloa bladhii may be used as part of a prairie type planting scheme. This grass may be cut to ground level in March to keep a tidy appearance. Once established this grass is drought tolerant.

Bothriochloa bladhii (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Bothriochloa bladhii Flower (08/09/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Landscape Architecture

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (02/07/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 75cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Poaceae

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is a deciduous perennial grass with an upright, clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are strap shaped and are up to 90cm long and 15mm across. Its pink/ purple flowers appear in the form of dense feathery spikes which are up to 35cm long. Its flowers are followed by light brown seeds which persist on the plant during the winter months. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its spread.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ Flower (02/07/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Calamagrostis x acutiflora, commonly known as Feather Reed Grass, is a cross between  Calamagrostis arundinacea and Calamagrostis epigejos.

The etymological root of the binomial name Calamagrostis is from the Greek Kalamos meaning ‘reed’ and agros meaning ‘field’. Acutiflora is derived from the Latin acutus meaning ‘cut to a point’ and flora in reference to the Roman Goddess of flowering plants.

The landscape architect may find Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ useful as part of a prairie type planting scheme. Due to its tollerance of dry and wet soils it is suitable for use in ‘rain gardens’.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ Leaf (02/07/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically,  Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ seeds are attractive to some birds during the winter months.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. This grass will tolerate wet soils.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.



Landscape Architecture