Calamagrostis Sp. - Reed Grass

Family: Poaceae ^[E-flora]

Google Gemini - Created with AI prompt (This page needs scrutiny)

General: A genus of about 260 species of perennial, cool-season grasses, often forming tufts or spreading by rhizomes. (Wiki) They are known for their upright, feathery flower plumes that appear in summer and often persist into winter. (RHS) The name "Calamagrostis" comes from the Greek words kalamos (reed) and agrostis (a type of grass). (Wiki)
Lifecycle: Perennial. (Wiki)
Flowers: Bisexual spikelets with a single floret, typically purple or purple-brown, clustered into inflorescences on long stems. (Wiki)
Leaves: Generally narrow, flat, and arching. (RHS)
Habitat: Found in temperate regions worldwide, often in moist to wet areas, from forests to tundra. (Wiki)
Range: Globally distributed in temperate zones; at equatorial latitudes, they are found at higher elevations. (Wiki)
Possible Lookalikes: Calamagrostis canadensis can be confused with the invasive Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea). (Renz Weed Science) However, many popular horticultural varieties of Calamagrostis are considered non-toxic to pets. (PictureThis)

Local Species

1. Calamagrostis canadensis - bluejoint reedgrass ^[E-flora]
2. Calamagrostis epigeios - chee reedgrass ^[E-flora]
3. Calamagrostis lapponica - Lapland reedgrass ^[E-flora]
4. Calamagrostis montanensis - plains reedgrass ^[E-flora]
5. Calamagrostis nutkaensis - Pacific reedgrass ^[E-flora]
6. Calamagrostis purpurascens - Purple Reed Grass ^[E-flora]
7. Calamagrostis rubescens - pinegrass ^[E-flora]
8. Calamagrostis sesquiflora - one-and-a-half flowered reedgrass ^[E-flora]
9. Calamagrostis stricta - slimstem reedgrass ^[E-flora]

Ethnobotany

• Calamagrostis canadensis (Bluejoint Reedgrass): The Cree people have used this species to line and cover pits for winter potato storage. (GoBotany) It was also used for making mattresses. (UW Arboretum)
• Calamagrostis rubescens (Pinegrass): The Okanagan-Colville people mixed the leaves with mud for chinking log cabins and used dried, softened leaves as insoles in moccasins. The leaves were also used to line berry baskets, for pit cooking, and to create beaters for whipping soapberries. (NAEB) The Thompson peoples used the softened grass for sanitary napkins and socks. (NAEB)

Other Uses

• Horticulture: Many species and cultivars are popular ornamental grasses, valued for their vertical habit and attractive seed heads that provide winter interest. *Calamagrostis x acutiflora* 'Karl Foerster' is a particularly well-known cultivar and was named the 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year. (MBG) It was introduced to commerce in 1950 by German nurseryman Karl Foerster. (Chicago Botanic Garden)
• Ecological: Calamagrostis canadensis is important for soil stability in wet areas and is a pioneer species in revegetating oil spill sites. (Calscape) *Calamagrostis nutkaensis* is used as a stabilizer for creek banks. (Watershed Nursery)

Phytochemistry & Allelopathy

While detailed phytochemical studies on the genus are not widely available, some species are known to contain flavonoids. (WIPO) Calamagrostis epigejos (Wood Small-Reed) has demonstrated allelopathic potential, releasing volatile compounds and aqueous extracts that can inhibit the germination and growth of other grassland species. (BioOne)

Cultivation

Calamagrostis species are generally easy to grow in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. They are "cool-season" grasses, meaning they do most of their growing in the spring and fall. The dried foliage and seed heads are typically cut back in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. (RHS)

Lore & History

The horticultural use of Calamagrostis was significantly influenced by Karl Foerster, who championed the use of grasses in garden design and influenced the "New German Garden Style." This style emphasizes low-maintenance gardening and four-season interest, concepts that remain popular today. (Chicago Botanic Garden) While specific folklore for the genus is scarce, "reeds" in general have appeared in folklore, such as in Aesop's fable "The Oak and the Reed," where the reed's flexibility allows it to survive a storm that breaks the rigid oak. (Wikipedia)

Selected Species

• Calamagrostis canadensis (Bluejoint Reedgrass): One of the most common and widespread species in North America, found in a variety of habitats from forests to tundra. (Calscape)
• Calamagrostis nutkaensis (Pacific Reedgrass): A coastal species native to western North America, from Alaska to California, found in moist areas like beaches and wetlands. (Wikipedia)
• Calamagrostis purpurascens (Purple Reedgrass): A perennial grass found in arctic, boreal, and alpine habitats. (Wikipedia)
• Calamagrostis rubescens (Pinegrass): Native to western North America, found in forests and woodlands. It is unusual in that it rarely flowers. (Wikipedia)

References

• (BioOne) Allelopathic Effects of Wood Small-Reed (Calamagrostis epigejos) on Germination and Growth of Selected Grassland Species. Polish Journal of Ecology, 67(2), 145-155. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (Calscape) Calamagrostis canadensis. California Native Plant Society. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (Chicago Botanic Garden) Karl Foerster: the Plant, the Myth, the Legend. Chicago Botanic Garden. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (GoBotany) Calamagrostis canadensis. Native Plant Trust. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (MBG) Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'. Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (NAEB) Calamagrostis rubescens. Native American Ethnobotany Database. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (PictureThis) Is Feather reed grass Safe for Pets?. PictureThis. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (Renz Weed Science) Reed canary grass look alikes. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (RHS) Calamagrostis. Royal Horticultural Society. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (UW Arboretum) Calamagrostis canadensis – Bluejoint Grass. University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (Watershed Nursery) Calamagrostis nutkaensis. The Watershed Nursery. Accessed August 15, 2025.
• (Wiki) Calamagrostis. In Wikipedia. Accessed August 15, 2025. (citing various sources within the article)
• (WIPO) Plant-based biologically active food supplement and means for preventing and treating diseases of immune system. World Intellectual Property Organization. Accessed August 15, 2025.

Image References

1. Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
2. Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln, NE., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Johann Georg Sturm (Painter: Jacob Sturm), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons