A clump-forming cool season grass that is one of the first to begin growing in the spring, around the time spring-blooming bulbs appear. Makes a beautiful vertical accent in the garden. Use around water features, by streams or in mass groupings. Yellow blooms 5-6'. Chosen plant of the year by the Perennial Plant Association in 2001. Calamagrostis a. 'Stricta' is a (old) synonym for Calamagrostis a. 'Karl Foerster'