Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche' (Feather Reed Grass)

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche' is a variegated hybrid cultivar of feather reed grass, characterized by dark green margins and a white stripe that runs through the center vein of the grass's foliage. Easily grown in a variety of soils when provided with full sun, 'Avalanche' is deer and rabbit tolerant, and grows compact, clump-forming, and upright. As a direct descendant of the 'Karl Foerster' cultivar of feather reed grass, 'Avalanche' maintains its parent cultivar's attractive narrow form, growing to between two and three feet high and spreading to an average width of 18", with flower spikes occasionally adding an extra two feet.

Throughout the summer months, 'Avalanche' produces large plumes of pinkish-purple flowers atop its creamy variegated foliage, and these flowers add a lot of ornamental value atop their height. Flower tufts mature to golden tan seed plumes in the fall, persisting through the winter where they provide continual interest and a food source for birds. While 'Avalanche' is not a native selection, it is not invasive, and its variegated foliage provides a lot of multi-color interest in the home garden.