Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Overdam Feather Reed Grass: White Stripes Behind the Lavender
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Overdam feather reed grass is a variegated form of the familiar upright feather reed grass. Its narrow blades are green edged and striped in creamy white, and as summer warms up the stripes fade toward white with a pink blush. The foliage stays in a low clump under 2 feet, which keeps that color at eye level.
In June, slender stems shoot up to about 5 feet with feathery plumes that open with a purplish tint and ripen to sandy tan.
Overdam at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Overdam' |
| Foliage | Green with creamy white margins, pink flush in summer |
| Plumes | Purplish, aging to sandy tan, held into winter |
| Size | Foliage under 2 feet; plumes to about 5 feet; 12 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Plumes rise mid-June, peak late June, single flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
Designing with lavender
Lavender is a mound; Overdam is a column. Set a few clumps behind a row of lavender and the bed gains height without heaviness, because the plumes are airy enough to see through. The white-striped leaves also lighten up a planting that might otherwise read as all gray-green and purple.
The plumes rise about the same time lavender begins to bloom, so the two peak together in early summer. Afterward the tan seed heads hold their shape for months, giving the bed structure in fall and winter after the lavender has been trimmed. Give each clump a little breathing room so it does not shade the lavender's south side. The Companion Plant Planner can help with layout.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to fertile, including clay. That makes it handy for the heavier edges of a property where lavender would struggle.
- Water: regular moisture in the first season; tolerates dry spells after that. Leaf tips may brown on hot, dry afternoons, so a deep drink in midsummer helps.
- Cutting back: leave the plumes for winter interest and cut the clump to about 6 inches in early spring, before new growth.
- Problems: usually trouble-free; occasional rust or leaf spot in wet years.
Cut and dried stems
The plumes rate well for both cut and dried arrangements. Cut them as they open for a purplish tint, or later for the tan color. Tall grass plumes and dried lavender bundles make a simple, rustic pairing in a tall crock.
About the plug tray
Overdam is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a good option for hedging a long row, edging a drive or planting a mass. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is Overdam different from the plain green feather reed grass?
Overdam has white-striped leaves and a lower, less vigorous foliage clump, but the same upright, non-reseeding plumes at about 5 feet.
Will it seed around the garden?
No. It does not reseed, so it stays where you put it.
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