Molinia Karl Foerster

Description

Molinia ‘Karl Foerster’ – tall purple moor grass

Botanical name: Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Karl Foerster’
Common names: Tall purple moor grass, moor grass
Family: Poaceae (grass family)
Plant type: Deciduous perennial grass
Habit: Upright, vertical, clump-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 1.8–2m tall in flower × 0.5–0.6m spread
Foliage: Fine green leaves in a neat basal tuft, turning warm gold in autumn; deciduous
Flowers: Tall, airy, arching panicles of tiny flowers on towering stems, late summer into autumn, ripening to golden-buff (August–October)
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; prefers neutral to acid; tolerates a range of soils
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open or lightly shaded
Native range: Species native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Molinia ‘Karl Foerster’ is a tall, elegant purple moor grass with airy flower panicles held high on towering stems, turning glorious gold in autumn. Superb as a see-through veil in naturalistic borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A tall, upright form of the native purple moor grass, this grass forms a modest tuft of foliage from which rise very tall, airy flower stems, giving great height with wonderful transparency. It carries its flowers on tall, gracefully arching stems that sway and catch the light beautifully. It glows warm gold in autumn and is one of the most elegant of all grasses for naturalistic and prairie-style planting.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in full sun to partial shade — it prefers neutral to acid soil but tolerates a range. Its see-through habit means it can be planted where you look through the flower stems. Space about 60cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Wonderfully low-maintenance. Molinia is ‘self-cleaning’ — in late autumn the whole plant turns gold, then the stems and foliage drop away cleanly of their own accord, so little or no cutting back is needed; simply tidy any remaining debris in early spring. Water while establishing. Divide congested clumps in spring.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide established clumps in spring, as growth begins.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and robust, with few pests or diseases. An easy, reliable native grass.

Uses in the garden

Superb in naturalistic and prairie-style borders, as a tall see-through screen or veil, in bold drifts and among perennials, where its towering, airy stems add height, transparency and movement, with fine autumn colour.

Wildlife value

As a native grass it supports a range of insects, and the seedheads provide food for birds, while its airy structure adds valuable habitat to naturalistic plantings.

Toxicity & safety

Purple moor grass is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

‘Karl Foerster’ the moor grass (not to be confused with the Calamagrostis of the same name) gives real height with a light, airy, arching habit — plant it where the tall stems can catch the low autumn sun and glow. Best of all, it’s self-cleaning: it turns gold and drops its own stems in autumn, so there’s almost nothing to cut back.

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