Common Reed

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. - Grass family

Size

Mature Height: Up to around 13.0 feet

Planting Distance: 3.0 feet

Plant Type: Subshrub, Shrub, Graminoid

Root Depth: 20 inches

Growth Form: Rhizomatous

Growth Rate: Rapid

Features

Flower Color: White

Conspicuous Flowers: No

Bloom Time: Summer

Seasonal Growth: Spring

Evergreen: No

Fall Colors: No

Conditions

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Clay Soil Tolerance: Yes

Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Low

Flood Tolerance: High

Fire Tolerance: High

Salt Tolerance: High

Ecosystem Interactions

Pollinators: Butterflies; Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth); Wind

Larval Species depending on Common Reed: Gabara subnivosella, Ochlodes yuma, Poanes viator, Poanes viator zizaniae

Native Range

USA: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
CAN: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward I., Québec, Saskatchewan
MEX: Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest

Regional Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), CAN (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.