Common Reed Phragmites australis
- Phonetic Spelling
- frag-MY-teez aus-TRAY-lis
- Description
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Common reed is an invasive water plant in the grass family that is native to Europe. There are both native and exotic haplotypes and only the exotic one occurs in NC. This grass is found in wet sites and can tolerate brackish water. and even standing water up to 3 feet deep. It is capable of spreading rapidly by rhizomes forming large stands from 1/2 to 1 mile square. In NC it is found in the coastal plain.
This grass will grow 12-20 feet tall with bluish-green leaves 7-24 inches long. The cane-like stems produce a 5-16 inch plume of gray to purple inflorescence from mid-Summer through Fall. The seedheads follow and have a fluffy look. The plant grows best in warm climates and fertile soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council and the US Dept. of Agriculture National Invasive Species site.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phragmites
- Species:
- australis
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Seedheads are fluffy looking due to hairs on the spikelets and are grayish in color in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Gray to purple inflorescence is 5-16 inches long and occurs in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Blue-green leaves are linear to lanceolate-linear up to 24 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Each has a sheath around the culm that forms a minute membranous rim fringed with hairs. They turn tan during the winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Cane-like stems are hollow, tan in color and ridged.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
