Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

Common Reed

Threat Level	Category
Established	Grass

Description

Stem

A tall, perennial grass that can grow to over 15 feet in height, Common Reed forms a dense network of roots and rhizomes below ground which can reach several feet in depth. The plant spreads horizontally with rhizome runners which can grow 10 or more feet in a single growing season if conditions are optimal.

Leaves

Leaves are elongate and typically 1 to 1.5 inches wide at their widest point.

Flowers

Flowers form bushy panicles in late July and August and are usually purple or golden in color.

Fruit

As seeds mature, the panicles begin to look “fluffy” due to the hairs on the seeds, taking on a grey sheen. Common Reed may produce thousands of seeds annually, seed viability is typically low although there appears to be a great deal of interannual variation in fecundity.

Images

Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
More images of Phragmites australis

Life History

Preserved remains of native Phragmites that are 40,000 years old have been found in the southwest indicating that it is a part of the native flora of that region. In coastal areas, preserved rhizome fragments dating back 3000 to 4000 years have also been found in salt marsh sediments indicating that it is also native to these habitats. Native American uses of Common Reed include stems for arrow shafts, musical instruments, ceremonial objects, cigarettes, and both leaves and stems for constructing mats.

Habitat

Common Reed's habitat includes tidal and nontidal brackish and freshwater marshes, river edges, shores of lakes and ponds, roadsides, disturbed areas. Dispersal to new sites is typically by seed except along rivers and shorelines where fragments of rhizomes may be washed down to establish new sites. Along roadsides, rhizomes fragments may also be transported by heavy machinery between sites.

Origin and Distribution

USA (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY),
USA+ (PR)
Canada (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK)

Management Recommendations

Areas with large, established, populations of Phragmites are best restored using herbicides. Other options include mowing and prescribed burning.

Mechanical Control

Repeated mowing may be effective at slowing the spread of established stands but is unlikely to kill the plant. Excavation of sediments may also be effective at control but if small fragments of root are left in the soil, they may lead to reestablishment.

Herbicidal Control

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most effective control method for established populations. If a population can be controlled soon after it has established chances of success are much higher because the below-ground rhizome network will not be as extensive. Herbicides are best applied in late summer/early fall after the plant has flowered either as a cut stump treatment or as a foliar spray. It is often necessary to do repeated treatments for several years to prevent any surviving rhizomes from resprouting. When applying herbicides in or around water or wetlands, be sure to use products labeled for that purpose to avoid harm to aquatic organisms.

Fire Control

Prescribed burning after the plant has flowered, either alone or in combination with herbicide treatment, may also be effective. Burning after herbicide treatment also reduces standing dead stem and litter biomass which may help to encourage germination of native plants in the following growing season. Plants should not be burned in the spring or summer before flowering as this may stimulate growth.