Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Calamagrostis epigejos (Bush grass)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
0.8m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Calamagrostis epigejos
Other names
Bush grass, Common wood reed, Feathertop grass, Writing reed, Wood small reed, Bushgrass, Feathertop reed grass
Genus
Calamagrostis Calamagrostis
Species
C. epigejos - C. epigejos is a clump-forming, deciduous, perennial grass with flat, broadly linear, upright to arching, mid-green leaves and, in summer, dense, narrow, panicles of dark purple flowers aging pale brown.
Calamagrostis epigejos is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Flower
Flushed green, Purple in Summer; Purple, Flushed green in Autumn; Yellow-brown in Winter
Foliage
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn; Yellow-brown in Winter
How to care
Watch out for
Rust Rust
General care
Pruning
Cut back old stems to the ground in early spring before growth resumes.
Propagation methods
Division
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Calamagrostis epigejos (Bush grass) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.8m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Architectural, Prairie planting, Foliage only
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates heavy clay. Does not tolerate extremely poor soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Calamagrostis epigejos
Other names
Bush grass, Common wood reed, Feathertop grass, Writing reed, Wood small reed, Bushgrass, Feathertop reed grass
Genus
Calamagrostis Calamagrostis
Species
C. epigejos - C. epigejos is a clump-forming, deciduous, perennial grass with flat, broadly linear, upright to arching, mid-green leaves and, in summer, dense, narrow, panicles of dark purple flowers aging pale brown.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Flushed green, Purple in Summer; Purple, Flushed green in Autumn; Yellow-brown in Winter
Foliage
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn; Yellow-brown in Winter
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut back old stems to the ground in early spring before growth resumes.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Calamagrostis epigejos (Bush grass) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.8m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Architectural, Prairie planting, Foliage only
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates heavy clay. Does not tolerate extremely poor soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. This project provided us with the exciting opportunity to design a garden overlooking a natural harbour. We were inspired by the curvilinear… read more
The garden, created by award-winning designer Sarah Eberle, underlines that we need to increase tree cover, diversify planting and follow biosecurity guidelines to help protect our landscapes from… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login