Eastern Forest Threat Center - Reed Canary Grass

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Reed canary grass

Reed canary grass

Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

Reed Canary Grass
Phalaris arundinacea

Reed canary grass is native to the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It has been planted throughout the U.S. since the 1800's for forage and erosion control.

Keywords: Poaceae, grass, rough-textured leaf blades, membranous ligule, dense flower clusters, shiny brown seeds, stout rhizomes, fibrous root mass

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

Reed canary grass is a large, coarse grass that reaches 2 to 9 ft. in height. It has an erect, hairless stem with flat, gradually tapering, rough-textured leaf blades up to 10 in. long and ¼ to ¾ in. wide. The lead ligule is long and membranous. Single flowers, occurring in dense clusters from May to mid-June, are green to purple at first, changing to beige over time. Shiny brown seeds ripen in late June and are dispersed by waterways, animals, humans, and machines. Roots have short, stout rhizomes that root at the nodes and form a thick fibrous root mass. Reed canary grass can grow on dry soils in upland habitats and in the partial shade of oak woodlands, but does best on fertile, moist organic soils in full sun. It can invade most types of wetlands, including marshes, wet prairies, sedge meadows, fens, stream banks, ditches, and seasonally wet areas; it also grows in disturbed areas such as bergs and spoil-piles. Over time, it can form large colonies that spread throughout a wetland or floodplain. It also invades forested sites and limits tree regeneration. Few plants can grow in areas dominated by reed canary grass.