Melinda Myers

Giant Reed

Botanical Name

Arundo donax

Hardiness

Zones 5 to 10

Height

12 to 20 feet

Width

5 to 8 feet

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained to wet

Planting & Care

• Will tolerate light shade
• Plants do best in moist to wet soil
• Plants may need staking to prevent late season leaning
• In frost free climates this plant will spread by rhizome and can become quite aggressive, especially along waterways
• Plants in Zones 5-7 will benefit from protection of winter mulch
• Dig and divide in spring

Problems

None serious

Varieties

• Variegata - green and cream variegated foliage, hardy to Zones 7-8, smaller than the species