Species Pacific Reedgrass
beige-green foliage and stems

Pacific Reedgrass

Calamagrostis nutkaensis

Pacific Reedgrass (Calamagrostis nutkaensis) is a perennial grass found in coastal wetlands, meadows, and areas along the Pacific coast of North America. It grows to around 1–2 meters tall, and is adapted to poor drainage conditions. Its leaves are grey-green in color, up to 30 centimeters long, and are covered in small, silky hairs. Its bright green inflorescences have a distinctive open head, which is filled with many tiny spikelets. The long plume-like seed heads persist throughout winter providing an attractive sight. Pacific Reedgrass is particularly tolerant of salinity and can act as a stabilizing agent in coastal areas subject to erosion. It’s known to provide food for small mammals, birds, and insects, making it a welcome addition to any garden.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

Sun, Partial Shade

Soil:

Sand

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Pacific Reedgrass should be watered about once a week. When watering, plants should receive enough so that the soil is saturated 2 to 3 inches below the surface. It's important to apply enough water that air pockets in the soil are filled so the plant receives the hydration it needs. If Pacific Reedgrass is planted in poor soil, more frequent watering should be done. In overly dry environments, additional watering may be necessary. When watering, be sure not to over saturate as this can also be damaging to the plant.

sunlight

Pacific Reedgrass (Calamagrostis nutkaensis) is an easily identifiable and adaptable groundcover, perennial native to coastal British Columbia and Washington state. This species grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soils with pH ranges of 5.5-8.0. For best results with Pacific Reedgrass, it should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun exposure per day, though 8-10 hours is optimal. In northern locations with short summer days, Pacific Reedgrass will require some supplemental light to benefit growth and flowering. In these colder regions of its natural habitat, Pacific Reedgrass is more likely to become dormant during the winter months, so it’s important to ensure it receives enough light while it’s actively growing.

pruning

Pacific Reedgrass is a fast-growing native grass that can be pruned back to encourage a fuller, more robust growth. Pruning of Pacific Reedgrass should take place in early spring when new growth is beginning to appear. This will help to minimize the damage to existing foliage and will also help to encourage denser foliage. Pruning of Pacific Reedgrass should be relatively light, removing no more than 1-third of the overall foliage at any 1 time. Additionally, it may be helpful to shape the growth of the Pacific Reedgrass by selectively removing the tallest, thinner, or weaker stems. This will help to provide a more uniform look and encourage more upright growth.