Common Reed - Phragmites australis
  • Can grow on damp ground, standing water or even as a floating mat
  • Large vigourous plants wiht hollow stems
  • Leaves 2-3 m wide
  • Large feather-duster like inflorescences
  • Reproduces by rhizomes & Seeds

The native subsp. americanus tuypically doesn't form Monocultures and has:

  • Leaf sheaths which fall off easy as the plant senesces
  • Basal internodes which are reddish in the summer and chestnut brown in fall
  • Ligule >1 mm (<1 mm for invasive subsp)
  • Lighter green coloration and a less dense flower stalk

The Problem

The Invasive subsp. grows vigorously and densely consuming almost all available space and significantly reducing the amount of light reaching the ground. Density can reach 200 stems/m2

A dense network of roots and rhizomes are formed that can extend seveal feet down greatly altering the species composition and even the hydrology of the site

Distribution

Not tolerant of acidic conditions so in NB grows mostly in brackish areas

Found across Canada and the USA

Used in bioremediation and in Europe as early season forage and as thatching