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AquaPlantA Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
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Giant Reed

Arundo donax

Non-Native

Giant Reed Locations in North America
Giant Reed Locations in Southeast US
Giant Reed

giant reed side view
giant reed drawing

Giant Reed
Giant Reed
Giant Reed lining bank of pond

What is Giant Reed?

Physical Characteristics

Overview

Leaves:

  • Blades mostly 1-2 feet long
  • 0.78-2+ inches wide
  • Firm

Flowers:

  • Thick cluster of flowers
  • White in color
  • 1-2 feet long
  • Spikelets 0.5-0.6 inches long
  • Usually 3 flowers per spikelet
  • Closely overlapping scales
  • Scales about 0.28 inches long
  • Scales thinly sword-shaped
  • Scales have very fine points

Stem:

  • Thick, short rhizomes
  • Grow in large clumps
  • Hollow stem
  • 6-18 feet long
  • Up to 2 inches thick
  • Growing upright
  • Rarely branching

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Giant reed is native to India and was introduced into the U.S. in the early 1800’s.

Giant reed can be found along irrigation ditches and streams, occasionally in marshes, sand bars, and levees of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande Plains.

Pros and Cons of Giant Reed

This is a non-native plant that should not be grown as it is invasive and illegal to possess or transport this species in Texas. Please report sightings to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (512) 389-4800.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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