Giant Reed (Donax)
The
Giant Reed (Donax) is generally described as
a perennial subshrub or shrub or graminoid.
This
is
not native to the U.S. (United States)
and has its most active growth period in the
spring and summer and fall .
Leaves are
not retained year to year.
The
Giant Reed (Donax) has a
moderate life span relative to most other plant species and a
rapid growth rate.
At maturity, the typical
Giant Reed (Donax) will reach up to
9 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of
0 inches.
The
Giant Reed (Donax) is easily found in nurseries, garden stores and other plant dealers and distributors. It can be propagated by
sprigs.
Note that cold stratification is
not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below
7°F.
has
low tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.
| Category |
|
| Growth Rate |
Rapid |
| General Type |
Subshrub, Shrub, Graminoid |
| Growth Period |
Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Growth Duration |
Perennial |
| Lifespan |
Moderate |
| Plant Nativity |
Introduced to U.S. |
| Commercial Availability |
Routinely Available |
| Bloom Period |
Late Spring |
| Displays Fall Colors |
No |
| Shape/Growth Form |
Rhizomatous |
| Drought Tolerance |
Low |
| Shade Tolerance |
Intermediate |
| Height When Mature |
9 |
| Vegetative Spread |
Rapid |
| Flower Conspicuousness |
No |
| Seed Spread Rate |
None |
| Propagations (Ways to Grow) |
Sprigs |
| Moisture Requirements |
High |
| Cold Stratification Required |
No |
| Minimum Temperature |
7 |
| Soil Depth for Roots |
24 |
| Toxic to Nearby Plants |
No |
| Toxic to Livestock |
No |
| After-Harvest Regrowth Rate |
Rapid |
| After-Harvest Resprout Ability |
No |
| Responds to Coppicing |
No |
| pH Range |
4.8–7 pH |
| Precipitation Range |
35–35 inches/yr |
| Planting Density |
3800–7200 indiv./acre |
| Soil Textures |
Fine, Medium |
| Soil Depth for Roots |
24 |
| Minimum Frost-Free Days |
220 day(s) |
| Salinity Tolerance |
None |
| CaCO3 Tolerance |
Low |
| Leaf Retention |
No |
| Palatability |
Low |
| Fire Resistant |
No |
| Causes Livestock Bloating |
None |
Source: USDA, NRCS, PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov.
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA
- Arundo donax var. versicolor
- Arundo versicolor
can be found in
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, PR, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, VI, West Virginia
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