PlantFiles: Variegated Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Overdam'

This plant was purchased at Lowe's. It has beautiful reddish-bronze flowers which blow ever so nicely in the wind. I strongly recommend this grass.

A great upright grass that does not fall apart. A diminutive, variegated form of Karl Forester, it has a very small "downtime" here in Zone 8/9 (inland northern California) Takes blazing full sun without showing any stress, which is great for a variegated plant. We had 110 degrees in July.
Let it stand through the winter and cut it back late winter-in no time, you will have regrowth of foliage and a nice clump of grass. This is the longest blooming grass I am aware of. Blooms in June here and doesn't stop til late Winter. I can't say enough about this and Karl Forester. Yowza!

Most excellent grass, nice clump. Flowers stiff and attractive for winter interest. Slower to regrow from cutting back in summer. Varigation very refined.

Another good feather reed grass. It is cold hardy Z3 according to the tag on one I planted this year.
The tag also recommends to cut it to the ground midsummer to encourage a flush of new growth. I plan to do that next summer when the clumps are larger.
This grass is best divided in the spring to help it remain vigorous. A nice addition to help show off a vignette of group plantings.

Excellent grass about 4 ft tall rising from about a 12-18 in clump of leaves. As with most grasses, looks great with backlighting of a.m. or p.m. sun. Flower heads move in the slightest wind. This variety of grass has the extra benefit of remaining intact over the winter, withstanding even our many storms off the Pacific. Cut to the ground in early spring. Easy to propagate by dividing root ball. Some of mine even thrive in part shade.