Reed Canarygrass

Phalaris arundinacea L.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲  inflorescence

▲ collar and ▼ ligule

Reed Canarygrass: (pp. 450-451, Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 72-73, Weeds of the Northeast)

·         Cool-season perennial grass that spreads by seeds and rhizomes

·         Grows 2-8’ tall, with dark green medium texture leaf blades, that may remain green year round

·         Flowering stems are slender, upright and stiff, producing many slender, compressed panicle (spike-like) inflorescences that turn whitish-gray after maturing

·         Found in wetter soils

·         Non-native colonies are more aggressive than native colonies