Common Reed
Phragmites australis
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Corse, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Guyana, Hainan, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Madeira, Malaya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panamá, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, South Africa, S
Dietmar Rabich (www.wikidata.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Phragmites
- Species:
- Phragmites australis
- USDA Symbol:
- PHAU7
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, brown
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Gabara subnivosella, Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Yuma Skipper (Ochlodes yuma)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Elachista helodella Butterflies:Yuma Skipper (Ochlodes yuma)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan, gold
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Fire is used as a management tool to control invasive populations.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, waterlogged, organic-rich soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 8.5 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist to wet
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. More commonly propagated by rhizome division.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI