Golden Reed 'Variegatus'

A striking deciduous perennial grass that brings architectural height and vibrant colour to the margins of larger ponds or lakes. This cultivar is significantly less invasive than the species, yet still offers robust growth. It features upright, bamboo-like stems clothed in long, tapered leaves dramatically striped with bright gold and green. In late summer, it produces feathery, purplish flower panicles that fade to silver-grey, persisting into winter to provide architectural interest and nesting material for birds. It thrives when planted in baskets to control spread, submerged in up to 15cm of water. In the UK, it is exceptionally hardy (H7) and performs best in deep, rich mud. Its bright foliage provides an excellent backdrop for darker aquatic plants and offers valuable cover for dragonflies and amphibians. It requires minimal maintenance other than cutting back the old stems to the base in early spring before new growth emerges.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Deep mud or aquatic compost.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Aug, sep, Oct.