Calamagrostis arundinacea: Reed Grass

This Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ publication is part of a series originally written by Edward F. Gilman. Visit https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ to learn more about creating and maintaining attractive landscapes that protect Florida's water resources and environment.

Introduction

Reed grass (Calamagrostis arundinacea) is a fine-textured ornamental grass with an upright growth habit that attains a height and spread of 2 to 4 feet (Figure 1). The medium green leaves of this plant are lanceolate in shape and have a brown fall coloration that persists into winter (Figure 2). The inflorescence of this plant is a compact, spike-like panicle that is 4 to 8 inches long and appears atop stems that may be up to 4 feet tall (Figure 3). These inflorescences are loosely branched and have a pinkish white or reddish cast. They appear in the summer and are followed by attractive seed heads that are used in flower arrangements. Following the flowers, a seedhead appears (caryopsis) bearing dried elongated seeds (Figure 4). This plant spreads by rhizomes, which allows it to slowly increase in diameter. Reed grass is suitable for cut or dried flower arrangements, habitat restoration and coastal landscaping, works well as a windbreaker, may be a specimen or used in mass plantings, and works well in containers or above-ground planters.

General Information

Scientific name: Calamagrostis arundinacea

Pronunciation: kal-uh-muh-GRAW-stiss uh-run-din-NAYsee-uh

Common name(s): reed grass; diamond grass; foxtail grass

Family: Poaceae

Plant type: herbaceous; ornamental grass

USDA hardiness zones: 4A through 9B (Figures 5 and 6)

Planting month for zone 7: Mar.–Oct.

Planting month for zone 8: Feb.–Oct.

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: specimen; mass planting; container or above-ground planter; cut flowers; border; accent; coastal landscaping

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 2 to 4 feet

Spread: 2 to 4 feet

Plant habit: upright; arching; mounding

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: fast

Texture: fine

Use and Management

Reed grass can grow in an area of the landscape receiving full sun or partial shade. Reed grass prefers wet brackish soil but will thrive in heavy clay soils with less moisture. The size of this plant depends on the moisture supply; it will grow larger with increased moisture levels.

Reed grass is excellent for naturalized areas in freshwater bogs and swamps, around lakes and ponds, and along streams. It is suited for planting near water gardens due to its tolerance of wet soil. It is a good specimen plant but also looks great planted en masse. This grass is tolerant of salt spray making it wonderful for coastal landscapes. In seashore plantings it can provide a tall screen or windbreak and is useful for erosion control. This is a hardy plant as it tolerates a variety of soil conditions including drought and wet soils, is salt tolerant, and is herbivore resistant. This plant does spread quickly via rhizomes and may require management to keep it within bounds.

The propagation of reed grass is accomplished by plant divisions.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases of major concern.