Calamagrostis canadensis is a native cool season grass that brings upright form and early vertical interest to moist woodland edges, rain gardens, and wet meadows. With graceful arching seedheads in early summer and tolerance for part shade, it performs where many ornamental grasses falter. It also supports biodiversity by providing nesting cover and a larval host site for wetland adapted insects.
Height & Spread: 24 - 48 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Early to mid summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist to wet soils, tolerant of light flooding
Watering Needs: High; prefers consistently moist conditions
Deer Resistance: Rarely browsed by deer
Native Status
This grass is native to much of North America, especially in northern and wetland regions. Its natural range includes marshes, ditches, and damp woodlands where it stabilizes soils and enhances habitat.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Provides nesting cover and protection for ground nesting birds such as Red winged Blackbirds and sparrows in wetland zones.
Butterflies
- Supports the larval stages of butterflies such as Eyed Brown and other sedge meadow specialists.
Beneficial Insects
- Hosts predatory beetles and hoverfly larvae that inhabit wet grassland soils and help control aphid populations.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Plant 18 - 24 in apart for uninterrupted vertical texture in naturalized drifts or wet border edges.
Landscape Placement:
- Best used in rain gardens, along pond edges, or integrated into native planting schemes in partially shaded or moist environments.
Companion Plants
- Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed) - Provides a strong upright counterpoint with deep purple blooms that attract pollinators to wet zones.
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) - Spikes of vivid blue contrast with airy grass plumes and thrive in similar damp habitats.
- Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris) - Strappy foliage and early violet flowers blend well with grasses at pond margins or moist borders.
- Carex stricta (Tussock Sedge) - Mounding wetland sedge that complements Calamagrostis’ fine texture and boosts wildlife value.
- Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead) - Clusters of white blooms bring visual weight and nectar for late summer pollinators like Bumblebees.