Calamagrostis foliosa
Mendocino Reed Grass
Description
This tufted perennial bunchgrass is native to the Northern California coastal scrub. It forms a beautiful, dense mound of grey-green leaves that reach 2' tall, with showy arching buff colored flower stalks to 3' tall in spring and summer. Reed Grass foliage turn into an attractive purple coloration in the fall and winter. This evergreen should be grown under sun, with little or no summer watering required.
Plant Type
Grass
Height Range
1-3'
Flower Color
White
Flower Season
Spring, Summer
Leaf Color
Grey Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch
Accenting Features
Fall Color, Showy Flowers
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Location Uses
Entry, Parking Strip, Patio, Park, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, Walkways, With Rocks
Special Uses
Container, Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Small Spaces
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Consider replacing some lawn areas with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs.
Good candidates for removal are portions of large lawns, areas where no one uses the grass, patches that don't grow well, or spaces too small to water without overspray.