Alternate name: Giant Reed, Phragmites

Family: Poaceae, Grass view all from this family

Description A tall, thick-stemmed grass producing large, initially reddish, then silver, plume-like terminal clusters and smooth, flat, sharp, blue-green leaves; floral masses become increasingly downy and purplish-gray as they mature.
Flowers: tiny, lacking petals; stamens 3; styles 2. Flowers enclosed in scales about 1/4" (6 mm) long; scales grouped into spikelets subtended by a tuft of silky hairs. Cluster of spikelets to 1' (30 cm) long.
Leaves: blades up to 20" (50 cm) long and 2" (5 cm) wide, with rough margins; sheathe stem at base.
Height: 5-15' (1.5-4.5 m).

Flower August-September.

Habitat Fresh and brackish marshes, ditches.

Range Throughout North America, except much of far north. More abundant along the coast.

Discussion This tall and striking plant rarely produces seed but spreads vigorously by underground stems (rhizomes), often running over the surface of the ground for 17-34' (5.1-10.2 m). It can form dense stands that exclude all other wetland species. It is the dominant vegetation of the still extant Hackensack Meadows of New Jersey where it filters pollutants from the greater New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. While this role may appear beneficial, this grass has no doubt outcompeted the native vegetation that would ordinarily serve this purpose. In New England, tidal gates across estuaries have restricted tidal flow and created heavily brackish conditions on tidal marshes, with the result that Common Reed has replaced extensive areas of tidal marsh grasses. While original native stock of this species probably fit into the ecological balance for centuries, introduced stocks have proven to be invasive. The plant was formerly known as P. communis.