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
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?
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
Contact your county weed control authority 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
Please refer to the 2025 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska and/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 your county weed control authority. For guidance on what information to include in your report, check out our reporting tips.
References and More Information
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
Great Lakes Phragmites Cooperative
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
National Invasive Species Information Center
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska Weed Control Association
New York Invasive Species Information