Reed Canary Grass | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Phalaris arundinacea

Also Known As: reed canarygrass, canary grass, ribbon grass, gardener’s garters, speargrass

Family: Poaceae (Grass)

Growth Form: Forb (emergent aquatic)

Life Span: Perennial

Flowering Dates: May-July

Origin: Asia, Europe, possibly northwestern United States

Noxious: No

Category 3: Established Aquatic Invasive Species

Why Is It Invasive?

Reed canary grass can quickly dominate wetlands, ditches, prairie potholes, and other sites with moist soil. It can exclude all other vegetation and is extremely difficult to eradicate once established.

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

Reed canary grass is a rhizomatous coarse, cool season grass that grows 2 - 6 feet tall. Reed canary grass is one of the first grasses to sprout in the spring. It forms dense monotypic stands in wetland ecosystems.

Flowers

Flowers are densely clustered single florets that can range in color from green to purple and typically fade to beige in late summer or fall. Reed canary grass blooms from May to mid-June.

Leaves

The grass blades are flat and rough on top and bottom. They gradually tapering from the base to the tip, and are up to 10 inches long and 1/4 inch–1/3 inch wide. It has a very transparent membrane where the leaf blade attaches to the stem, which is called a ligule.

Stems

Reed canary grass has hairless stems that stand upright or erect. Stems can reach 3 to 6 feet in height. The sturdy, often hollow stems can be up to 1/2 inch in diameter, with some reddish coloration near the top.

Seeds

Seeds ripen in late June. They are dispersed via waterways, animals, humans, and machines.

Photos

A closeup on the beige seedheads at the top of reed canary grass.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the flat, light green leaves on reed canary grass with white margins.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the very transparent membrane on reed canary grass where the leaf blade attaches to the stem, which is called a ligule.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

The rhizome buds at the roots of reed canary grass.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the leaf sheath on reed canary grass. The absence of auricles (where the leaf meets the stem) is characteristic of this grass.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Dormant reed canary grass becomes beige and dry when it is not in bloom.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the slender, densely clustered flowering seedhead on reed canary grass.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Different seedhead variations of reed canary grass.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

Reed canary grass typically occurs in soils that are saturated or nearly saturated for most of the growing season. Established stands can tolerate extended periods of inundation. It grows in roadside ditches, river dikes, shallow marshes, wetlands and meadows.

How Does It Spread?

This Eurasian species has been planted throughout the U.S. since the 1800s for forage and erosion control. While many state agencies have removed it from their planting lists, it is still being planted by private landowners. Invasion is associated with disturbances, such as ditch building, stream channeling, sedimentation and intentional planting.

How Do I Control It?

Management of invasive aquatic plants involving either mechanical removal of plants or application of herbicides to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

Mechanical

Mechanical control can be done by mowing in mid-June and October to reduce seed production and encourage native species. If cut during the growing season, reed canary grass will have a second growth spurt in the fall, so multiple mowings per year are necessary. Consecutive annual burns in spring or fall can be effective at reducing populations. Small patches can be hand-pulled, dug with a shovel, or covered with black plastic for at least one growing season.

If you are on public land or unsure of which method(s) would work best, contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 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

Application of chemicals to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

For chemical control on private land and/or waters, please refer to the 2025 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska or contact your county weed control authority.

What Should I Do If I See It in Nebraska?

If you see reed canary grass 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.