Common Reed | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Phragmites australis

Also Known As: canegrass, common reedgrass, ditch reed, Eurasian common reed, giant reed, phragmites, phrag

Family: Poaceae (Grass)

Growth Form: Shrub (emergent aquatic)

Life Span: Perennial

Flowering Dates: July-October

Origin: Eurasia, Europe, Africa

Noxious: Yes. Common reed is listed as a State Noxious Weed under the Noxious Weed Control Act in Nebraska, which means it is required by law for it to be removed from public and private land in the state.

Category 4: Noxious Aquatic Invasive Species

Why Is It Invasive?

Common reed is usually found in dense thickets growing in or near shallow water. These thickets displace native wetlands plants, alter hydrology and block sunlight to the aquatic community. It can quickly become established with extensive rhizomes taking over underground. These rhizomes store energy so the plant can recover from cutting, burning or grazing. Common reed alters hydrology and wildlife habitat, increases fire potential and shades native species. Native Phragmites do occur in the United States and they are sometimes very difficult to distinguish from the exotics.

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

Phragmites australis is a tall, perennial grass that can grow to heights of 15 ft. (4.6 m) or more. Broad, pointed leaves arise from thick, vertical stalks. Stout oval rhizomes can reach up to 1.8 meters (six feet) deep and three meters (10 feet) horizontally.

Flowers

The flower heads are dense, fluffy, gray or purple in color and 5.9-15.7 inches (15-40 cm) long and resemble feather dusters.

Leaves

Leaves are wide, flat and glabrous. Smooth, linear leaves are 15-60 centimeters (6-24 inches) long, one to six centimeters (0.4-2.4 inches) wide, and blue-green in color. The leaf sheaths tightly clasp the stem, are difficult to remove and stay on throughout winter. Black line and long, white hairs (ligule) are present at the junction of leaf and sheath.

Stems

Upper stems are green, lower to mid stems are dull green to tan. Stems are ribbed and rough textured, unbranched, erect, and slow to deteriorate, dead stems often persisting through the next season.

Seeds

The seeds are small, brown, light weight, and about 0.3 inches (8 mm) long with many hairs attached. In the fall the plant turns brown, and the inflorescences persist throughout the winter. Each common reed plant produces thousands of seeds each year, but seed viability is low, although viability varies from year to year. New sites are established through seed movement and from rhizome fragments that float down stream or are moved in soil, especially along roadsides.

Photos

Young new stalks of Eurasian common reed sprouting up from the ground.

Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the dense, fluffy, grayish-purple flowerheads on two Eurasian common reed plants.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the dense, fluffy, beige, nodding seedhead on a Eurasian common reed plants as it nears the end of flowering season..

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the wide, flat leaves connected to the stems of the Eurasian common reed.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A dense patch of dormant Eurasian common reed.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A dense patch of Eurasian common reed along a body of water.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the roots and rhizome buds on a Eurasian common reed plant.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the long, slender beige seeds of the Eurasian common reed with white hairs on the seeds.

Credit: D. Walters and C. Southwick, Table Grape Weed Disseminule ID, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

Common reed is found throughout the Great Plains, forming dense stands in wet and moderately fertile soils along banks of ponds, lakes, streams, marshes, roads, ditches and in wet fields.

How Does It Spread?

Common reed can spread both sexually (by seed) and asexually (clonally, including by stolons or “runners”, root-like structures called rhizomes, and stem fragments). When populations produce large amounts of viable seed, spread across the landscape is more rapid and control is more difficult and expensive.

How Do I Control It?

Management of invasive aquatic plants involving either mechanical removal of plants or application of herbicides to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

A combination of two or more control methods is the best approach when controlling common reed. By utilizing several control options, your odds become greater that more common reed will be controlled. Common reed is capable of reproducing by seeds and root fragments. Existing infestations can spread vegetatively, not only by its extensive root system, but also by the plant’s capability to send out extensive rhizomes that grow over 30 feet in length. Continued monitoring and follow-up control measures are essential for maintaining common reed infestations at an acceptable level. Vigilance is necessary to identify new infestations and effectively control them when the patches are small and there is a possibility of total control. A follow-up program is necessary for several growing seasons to control escaped plants and new seedlings.

Mechanical

Stands of common reed can be suppressed by mowing and/or grazing. Mowing reduces the plant’s vigor, but continuous mowing is necessary to keep the stand in check. Mowing activities produce numerous small plant parts that are capable of resprouting, thus possibly increasing new shoots. This method should be used for short-term control until more effective methods can be applied. The use of cattle or goats has shown mixed results in containing dense stands of common reed. Vegetation should be grazed early in the growing season and continually grazed throughout the season. This method can suppress seed production as well as stressing root reserves of the plant. An intensive grazing program is a must and should be continued over several growing seasons.

If you are on public land or unsure of which method(s) would work best, contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

CLEAN your watercraft, trailer, angling gear and other equipment. Remove all aquatic vegetation and animal species from your equipment.
DRAIN your watercraft at the ramp by removing the boat plug and draining all live wells and ballast tanks.
DRY your watercraft, trailer and other equipment for at least 7 days before visiting another waterbody. If coming from a known zebra mussel infested waterbody, allow your watercraft and equipment to dry for at least 30 days before using them on an un-infested waterbody.
DON'T LET IT LOOSE. Do not release or transport exotic or non-native fish species to new ecosystems, and do not dump aquariums. It is unlawful to release any aquatic species into a waterbody other than the one from which it was harvested. Doing so can promote the spread of AIS.

Chemical

Application of chemicals to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

For chemical control on private land and/or waters, please refer to the 2025 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska or contact your county weed control authority.

What Should I Do If I See It in Nebraska?

If you see common reed in Nebraska, you should report it to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program using their AIS Report Form. For guidance on what information to include in your report, check out our reporting tips.