Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘El Dorado’ (Feather reed grass)

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘El Dorado’

Feather reed grass

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Commelinidae	Dayflowers and spiderworts, and several others
Order	Cyperales	Flowering plants including grasses
Family	Poaceae	Grasses (but not sedges or rushes)
Genus	Calamagrostis	From the Greek kalamos, “a reed or stalk,” and agrostis, “grass or weed,”
Species	acutiflora
Cultivar	‘El Dorado’

About plant names...

Feather reed grass is a group of cultivated grasses valued as ornamental plants in landscape plantings. They are not found in nature. This is a variegated form of Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Forester,’ with leaves that have a bright yellow streak along their centers.

Identification: This grass grows in clusters 4-6' (1.2-1.8 m) high and 24-30" (60-76 cm) around. The foliage reaches about halfway up the cluster; the rest is flowerheads on long stalks. Flowers are light green at first, becoming pink-purple.

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

Here are some cultivars:

	*Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Avalanche’*	You are here Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘El Dorado’	*Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Overdam’*
Common Name	feather reed grass	feather reed grass	feather reed grass
Plant	In clusters 3-5' (91-152 cm) high and 12-14" (30-36 cm) around.	Variegated form of Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Forester.’ Grows in clusters 4-6' (1.2-1.8 m) high and 24-30" (60-76 cm) around.	Hybrid of C. arundinacea x C. epigejos.. This grass grows in clusters 24-60" (60-152 cm) high and 12-24" (30-60 cm) around.
Flowers	Light green at first, becoming pink-purple. They appear from June to February, starting earlier than some other cultivars.	Flowers are light green at first, becoming pink-purple.	Light green at first, becoming pinkish green, blooming from July to February.
Leaves	Leaves are variegated (white with green edges).	Variegated with a yellow streat along the center of each leaf.	Variegated with green and white stripes.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 5-9	USDA Zones: 4-8	USDA Zones: 4-7
Type	Cultivar	Cultivar	Cultivar

Online References:

Calamagrostis × acutiflora on ucanr.edu

Calamagrostis × acutiflora on Water-wise Plants for Utah Landscapes

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘El Dorado’ at Bohn’s Farm and Greenhouses

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘El Dorado’ description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

Range: Zones 4-8:

About this map...