This Grass is So Popular, it's Sold Out Everywhere!!! Spotlight on Karl Foerster Ornamental Grass

Karl Foerster grass is a tall clumping feather reed grass with wheat like seed heads that turn golden in the autumn.  It is much sought after for its architectural impact in the garden, both residential and commercial. 

Photos in above collage were taken at the St. Albert Botanical Garden last fall.

The grass blades are upright and deep green.  In summer it sports seed heads which turn golden in the autumn and remain through the winter offering food and shelter to birds.  

Karl Foerster grass at the Legislature Grounds, Edmonton Alberta.  Photo taken during the fall.

Karl Foerster grass grows best in well-drained soil and is drought tolerant after established.  

Karl Foerster grass in a boulevard, Edmonton Alberta.

Photo above taken at Muttart Conservatory April 2013.

Stalks of seed heads remain upright, rising above the snow; providing winter interest.  In early spring, cut back to the ground. Clumps may be divided in spring. Amend soil with worm castings, sea soil or compost.

Photos in this collage were taken at a local boulevard during the winter.  The Karl Foerster grass is a popular landscape specimen in commercial applications.


Botanical name:  Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Overall Height:150 cm/ 60 inches
Foliage height:  91-122 cm/36-48 inches
Spread/width:  60 cm/24 inches (clumping - not invasive)
Full sun or part shade
Zone Hardiness:  3-9
Flowers:  July-August.  Will bloom in light shade.  Flower heads become pink/purplish green then turn golden brown in autumn.
Soil:  medium - wet.  Drought tolerant once established
Good for moist low spots, narrow beds, pond or stream plantings
Deer resistant
Growth rate:  medium
Tolerates: air pollution, black walnut (where few things will grow), wet soil, clay soil, erosion, variety of soil moisture levels but prefers moist well-drained soil.
Soil ph:  neutral, alkaline or acidic
Maintenance:  low

Perennial plant of the year 2001


Additional sources:
http://www.perennials.com/plants/calamagrostis-acutiflora-karl-foerster.html
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/32703774/Common-Name-Karl-Foerster-Grass-Botanical-Name-_Calamagrostis-x-
http://www.herbs.mb.ca/en/retail-greenhouse/c378147488/c378154597/karl_foerster_grass.html
http://plants.salisburygreenhouse.com/11050015/Plant/2170/Karl_Foerster_Reed_Grass

Amour de Paris at Muttart Conservatory April 18 - June 21/15

A Pond on Your Deck is Easy

Impatiens Downy Mildew Disease

Back in March 2013 I wrote an article (Impatiens Downy Mildew) about the downy mildew disease which has been devastating impatiens.  There is still no cure and you'll likely not find Impatiens Walleriana in the greenhouses this year either. Your best bet is to substitute the impatiens with a variety that is resistant such as New Guinea Impatiens (impatiens x hawkin) or substitute with another shade loving plant.  Pansies, sweet alyssum, forget me nots, begonias, ageratum, fuchsia, caladiums,  and coleus are a few you may want to consider instead.  

Fuchsia in a hanging basket offers an enormous pop of colour in the shade.

For more information see:
http://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/index.php/disease-alert-impatiens-downy-mildew/

Happy Mother's Day

The sweetest sounds to mortals given

Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.

~William Goldsmith Brown

Orchid Show 2015

Last month the Enjoy Centre of St. Albert, Alberta hosted the annual Orchid Show and Sale.  The following are highlights I captured of the day.

Brilliant colours

Pretty in pink

My favourite of the "orchid gardens" this year.

This lovely arrangement is similar to those my son will have for his wedding this summer.

Cute with an oriental theme.  I love the Japanese Maple!

Daughter-in-law (feels more like a daughter), son and daughter joined me for the afternoon.

This show is very much like last year's.  We unanimously decided we'll likely skip next year's unless one of us suddenly becomes an avid collector.  My son, above, was but after a considerable investment in some unusual and apparently difficult to grow orchids; he's decided to enjoy them at arm's length for now.  After all, he has a wedding to prepare for!

The World's Largest Flower, Putrella, Blooms Again

Tuesday, April 7/15 Putrella opened her enormous bloom. 

 I went to see her the following day.

This YouTube video was posted to the Facebook page for the Muttart Conseratory.  

Putrella Draws Crowd With Her Odour and Beauty

The Corpse Flower in Bloom (left), the enormous corm (middle) and the plant (right) on exhibit in the main concourse.

This year's presentation was more informative and included displays such as the corm from which the flower or plant develops.  Also on site was a dead carrion beetle, the only insect known to pollinate the corpse flower.  The stench, which is strongest on the first evening of the flower opening, draws the carrion beetle which then pollinates the flower.  

When the corm begins growing, it is difficult to tell if it will develop into a flower or a plant.  It's always exciting when it's a flower that develops.  You can follow her progress on the Muttart Conservatory Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/muttart.conservatory1.  The dates are March 10-April 9/15.  

#Putrella  #MuttartConservatory

Be Gentle With Spring Raking

Now's the time, if your lawn is dry and not spongy, to get out and give your lawn a gentle raking followed by an application of a spring fertilizer high in nitrogen.

Turkish Delight at Muttart Conservatory March 7 - April 12/15

With all the excitement over Putrella blooming again, I forgot to post the photos from the Turkestan Exhibit which coincided the Putrella event.  

Spring flowers were blooming in the pyramids too.