Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a cool-season grass that spreads aggressively through wetlands and prairie restorations. Reed canary grass easily forms a monoculture, shading and crowding out native plants.
Reed canary grass was introduced to the U.S. from Europe and Asia to be used as a forage grass and for erosion control.
Reed canary grass is not listed as an invasive species in Illinois, but at least 15 other states list it as invasive.
As a cool-season grass, reed canary grass will grow in the spring and flower late spring to early summer. It typically grows between 3 and 5 feet tall. Its leaves are about ¾ inch broad and almost 1 foot long. The foliage is a gray-green color. Leaves have a tall membranous ligule.
Reed canary grass produces a panicle inflorescence, but before it is mature and after it senesces, the inflorescence looks like a spike. The panicle is narrow, with short branches. Spikelets are densely packed onto the branches and are pointed at their tips. The inflorescence starts golden-orange and then fades to a straw color.
Learn more about how to identify grasses on the Grasses at a Glance blog.
