Arundinaria gigantea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-run-din-NAY-ree-a jy-GAN-tee-uh
- Description
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Giant cane is a native bamboo in the Poaceae (grass) family found in swampy areas and floodplains of the central and southeastern U.S.A. While it may grow up to 25 feet tall it is usually between 8 and 20 feet.
Plant in full sun to deep shade though it does best in partial to full shade. in moist, to wet, rich loamy oil. Giant cane has tall thin green stems and vigorous rhizomes that grow quickly into dense clumps. The leaves are alternate with an extremely toothed margin and hairy top side. Flowers are inconspicuous and rare but appear in the spring and flowering stems die back when the seeds are mature in the summer.
This native plant provides cover and food for wildlife like birds, as well as being a larval host plant for butterflies. Plant it in riparian or other wet sites in the landscape.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arundinaria
- Species:
- gigantea
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Canes are used for basketry, fishing poles, musical instruments, and home construction.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Central & SE. U.S.A.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals. This is a larval host plant for the Southern Pearly-Eye (Enodia portlandia) which has three broods from March-October, Creole Pearly-Eye (Lethe creola) which has three broods in the south from April-September, and various Skipper larvae.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- High deer resistance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous and rare. They bloom from April to July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate with an extremely toothed margin and hairy top side
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
