Arundinaria gigantea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-run-din-NAY-ree-a jy-GAN-tee-uh
- Description
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Switchcane is a bamboo that may grow 15 to 25 feet (usually 4 to 8 feet). The leaves are alternate with an extremely toothed margin and hairy top side. Flowers are inconspicuous and rare.
Habitat: Swamp, floodplains
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.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Summer
- 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
- 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
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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 Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- 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
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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 Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
