Common Reed
Phragmites australis · Perennial, Warm-season, C3-C4 intermediate photosynthetic pathway depending on ecotype
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Arundinoideae, tribe Arundineae
Grass Category
Wetland/Riparian Grass, Invasive/Weed Grass, Erosion Control Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Native North American subspecies (Phragmites australis subsp. americanus) and non-native invasive subspecies (Phragmites australis subsp. australis)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9, exhibiting exceptional cold and heat tolerance across diverse climates
About This Grass
Tall, robust perennial grass growing typically from 6 to 15 feet in height. Features rigid, hollow culms, broad gray-green leaves, and large, feathery, purplish-brown terminal panicles that turn fluffy and silvery-tan at maturity
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades exceeding 10-20mm in width, flat shape, sharply pointed tips, gray-green to blue-green color, rolled vernation, prominent midvein, membranous-hairy ligule, and absent auricles
Root System
Extensive, deep, aggressive rhizome and root system reaching several feet deep and spreading horizontally; forms a dense underground mat that outcompetes native vegetation and provides strong structural soil stabilization
Growing Information
Origin Region
Cosmopolitan distribution; native throughout temperate and tropical regions worldwide, with specific native and introduced lineages in North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and stoloniferous, forming extremely dense, aggressive clonal colonies and expansive monocultures
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun; thrives in wet soils, shallow standing water, marshes, retention ponds, and ditches; exhibits high drought tolerance once established due to deep roots but is primarily a wetland plant
Mowing & Maintenance
Generally not mowed due to massive height and wetland location; mechanical or chemical control required if managing invasive populations; overall maintenance level is low to high depending on control efforts
Special Characteristics
High invasiveness for non-native strains, aggressive growth rate, exceptional erosion control along shorelines, high biomass production, low palatability to wildlife, and ability to tolerate varying salinities and polluted waters
Ecological Information
Dual ecological status: native subspecies provides limited wildlife cover, whereas non-native introduced strains are notorious invasive weeds forming destructive monocultures that displace native wetland flora; excellent at shoreline stabilization and water filtration