Arundo donax
(Giant Reed)

Family - Poaceae
Category - Grass
Origin - Mediterranean
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H4
Height - up to 4m
Width - 1.5m
Location - The Cool Garden, The White Garden

Description: A rhizomatous Perennial grass with a clump-forming habit and very tall, vertical stems. Blue-green, arching leaves are broadly linear to strap-shaped and held on thick, reed-like stems. Spikelet flowers open purplish-red and fade to silver-green with age. The flowers are held in branched, feathery panicles and are produced in late autumn. However, flowers are not often produced in this climate.

Flower:

Spikelet flowers open purplish-red and fade to silvery-green with age. The flowers are held in feathery, branched panicles and may be produced in October and November, but are not often produced in this climate.

Flower colour: Purple-red, silvery-green

Flower shape: Spikelets in panicles

Flowering time: October, November

Foliage:

Glaucous, blue-green arching leaves are broadly linear to strap-shaped. The leaves are Alternately arranged on tall, vertical, reed-like stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Broadly linear to strap-shaped

Propagation:

Cuttings rooted in water, division, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun in moisture-retentive soil.