Giant Reed Grass
Arundo donax
Poaceae (Grass Family)
▲▼ mature colony of giant reed
▲▼ individual stem with wide leaf blades
▲ flowering colony, with large, broom-like panicles
Arundo donax: Giant Reed Grass
Location near campus: in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center.
· Asian warm-season, clumping grass with broad, relatively short leaf blades (2-3” wide by 12-24” long)
· Leaves are medium to gray green in color; white variegated leaf forms also available
· Can increase clump/colony size by shoots from short, thick rhizomes
· Unbranched stems grow 6-25’ tall in a single growing season
· Inflorescences are dense, broom-like, silvery-gray terminal panicles produced in early fall
· Stems do not persist beyond one year—new growth always starts from the ground (in Missouri)
· Stems are not woody like bamboo, but stem pith is source of reeds for woodwind musical instruments
· Prefers full sun (can tolerate light shade), moist, well-drained fertile soils, although can grow in wetter soils
· Large leaves, stems make it a focal point in landscapes, so careful planning in using it, particularly in smaller yards, is recommended
· Is invasive in western U.S.