General Information
Species Name: Arundo donax
Also Known As: giant cane, Georgia cane, Spanish reed, switch cane, wild cane
Family: Poaceae (Grass)
Growth Form: Grass
Life Span: Perennial
Flowering Dates: July-September
Origin: Eurasia and Africa
Toxic: No
Category 1: Priority Aquatic Invasive Species
Why Is It Invasive?
Giant reed invades wetlands such as ditches, stream banks and lake shores. It competes for water, nutrients and radiation, suppresses and excludes native vegetation which degrades wildlife habitat, increases fire risks and interferes with flood control.
What Does It Look Like?
General Characteristics
Giant reed can reach up to 20 ft. (6.1 m) in height, although it can be much shorter when damaged or stressed.
Flowers
Long, dense, plumes of whorled stemmed flowers develop at the top of the culms, reaching to 36 inches long occur July through September.
Leaves
Blue-green alternate leaves are long, flat, grow up to 1-2 inches wide and 12 inches long. They can be green or have variegated green and white stripes the length of the blade.
Stems
The stem resembles a corn stalk and may be 1/4 to 2 inches thick.
Seeds
No fruits or seeds typically outside of its native range. The plant spreads through rhizomes and stem nodes that come in contact with the soil.
Photos
Where Does It Grow?
It forms dense stands where water accumulates such as wetlands, stream banks, ditches, and disturbed sites. It may be found planted in landscapes. It grows best in well-drained soils where abundant moisture is available. It tolerates a wide variety of conditions, including high salinity, and can flourish in many soil types from heavy clays to loose sands. It occurs on upland sites as scattered dense clumps along roadsides and forest margins, migrating from old home plantings by displaced rhizome fragments.
How Does It Spread?
Giant reed was probably first introduced into the United States at Los Angeles, California in the early 1800's. Since then, it has become widely dispersed into all of the subtropical and warm temperate areas of the world, mostly through intentional human introductions. Today, giant reed is widely planted throughout the warmer areas of the United States as an ornamental and in the Southwest, where it is used along ditches for erosion control. Giant reed has a variety of uses ranging from music to medicine. Primitive pipe organs were made from it and the reeds for woodwind instruments are still made from its culms, for which no satisfactory substitutes are known. It is also used in basketry, for fishing rods, livestock fodder, medicine, and soil erosion control.
How Do I Control It?
A combination of two or more control methods is the best approach when controlling giant reed. By utilizing several control options, your odds become greater that more giant reed will be controlled. Continued monitoring and follow-up control measures are essential for maintaining giant 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 the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and/or 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, contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and/or your county weed control authority.
What Should I Do If I See It in Nebraska?
If you see giant 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.
References and More Information
A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska Weed Control Association
Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States
Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service