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Avalanche Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche'

Regular price $3469
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Delivery and Shipping

Delivery and Shipping

Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Clay Tolerant, Wet Soils, Slopes/Erosion Control, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, and Hedge/Screen

Specifications

  • Botanical Name
    Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche'
  • Height
    3-5 ft
  • Width
    1-2 ft
  • Growing Zones
    4-9
  • Sunlight
    • Full sun
  • Growth Rate
    Moderate
  • Flower Color
    • Pink
  • Leaf Color
    • Green
    • White
    • Variegated
  • Fall Color
    Tan
  • Bloom Period
    Early Summer, Late Summer, Late Winter
  • Does Not Ship To
    AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Full sun is best for the strongest stems and brightest white variegation. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. While it handles partial shade, the plumes may be less prolific and the upright habit might lean or flop.
  • Soil: This grass thrives in moist, heavy soils including clay that would suffocate other plants. If your soil is extremely sandy and drains too fast, mix in organic compost to help hold onto moisture.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist during the first growing season to ensure the root system anchors deeply. Once established, Avalanche is remarkably resilient but prefers regular supplemental water during dry spells to prevent the leaf tips from browning. Inconsistent watering during peak summer heat can lead to a stunted appearance and smaller flower spikes.

Pruning Tips

Since this grass blooms on the previous season's growth, you should cut the entire clump back to about 3 or 4 inches above the ground in late winter or very early spring before new green shoots appear. Think of this as a "reset button" that clears out the dead tan foliage to make room for fresh variegated blades. If you wait too long to prune, you risk cutting the tips of the new season's growth, which can leave the plant looking ragged.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as soon as you see new growth emerging from the base. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall because this encourages soft, lush growth that can be easily damaged by the first hard frost. A single application in spring provides all the energy the plant needs to reach its full height and produce its signature silvery plumes.

Striped & Graceful Avalanche Feather Reed Grass!

  • Upright & Narrow Variegated Foliage
  • White & Green Blades
  • Reddish Spring Growth
  • Showy Pinkish-Purple Plumes!
  • Tall, Moist Soil Loving Ornamental
  • Holds Color Into Autumn
  • Tan Fall Color
  • Deer Resistant
  • Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • Graceful Dense Slender Clumps
  • Dried Plumes for Interior Decor
  • Naturalizing & Erosion Control
  • Texture, Sound, Motion & Color!

Graceful and structural, Avalanche Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche') is a stately grass with sparkling variegation on every blade!

Avalanche Feather Reed provides showy, unique color and texture to the landscape and impressive height. Emerging a reddish hue in spring, the remainder of the growing season displays shiny blades of green and white striped variegation.

The airy pinkish-purple plumes are beautiful for floral design, and dried decoration as well as provide year-round interest in the landscape.

A cool season grass that grows in a tidy mound of narrow, upright foliage that slightly fans outwards. Avalanche slowly forms a spreading neat clump, and the variegation shines in the sun!

Holding their color well into autumn, these graceful Ornamental grasses lend an amazing texture, motion and sound to the landscape. Tan hues emerge on Avalanche's blades after frost and the upright growth resists flattening out in the snow.

How to Use Avalanche Feather Reed Grass In The Landscape

Airy, graceful and relaxed, this grass looks loose and informal in partial sun. Avalanche can serve as the main feature in a fall garden long after most other plants have given up! The plumes reach high and soften garden borders and beds in a graceful manner.

In full sun, the growth is upright and can also create formal rows, or tall hedges providing some privacy until winter. Use as a structural, striped backdrop and upright accent in the mixed border and perennial beds.

Tough, resilient Avalanche Feather Reed Grass is a great mass planting to control erosion, on slopes and naturalize those tricky, out-of-the-way areas. The ornate plumes also serve as lovely specimen plantings!

The moisture-loving qualities of Feather Reed make them perfect for low areas in the landscape or in high-moisture locations along Rain Gardens, ponds or streams, and water features.

Feather Reed Grasses are urban environment tolerant and partly drought tolerant too! Making them great for along that 'Hell-strip' along the road, and in tough spots where the soil is poor. Even thriving in heavy clay soils as long as it does not sit in water.

Tall enough for "Living Walls" and Outdoor Garden Rooms creating tranquil privacy! These soothing plants around your outdoor rooms and retreats unwind the nerves and quiet the mind with sound, texture, color, motion and privacy!

Create a focal point in your garden by clustering a grouping of 3 or more for a stand-out accent! Seating areas, birdbaths, outdoor sculptures and urns become the main feature framed with these beauties!

#ProPlantTips For Care

Avalanche Feather Reed Grass does best in full sun and grows upright and strong. However, are just as happy in the part shade, creating a relaxed, open and weeping form in shady spots.

Tolerating wet soils or higher than average moisture, Avalanche does not like to dry out. The fibrous roots do need well-draining soil and cannot sit in water for long periods of time.

Each year late winter or early spring, cut all of the foliage down to just a few inches allowing all new foliage and flowers to develop each year.

With incredible texture, motion, sound and color, the Avalanche Feather Reed Grass is an outstanding structural accent that is graceful and elegant! There is no place this ornamental grass won't look amazing so call Nature Hills Nursery today!

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