Tall Reed
Phragmites karka
- Native to:
- Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., China, Cook Is., DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marshall Is., Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Is., Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen
Ajtjohnsingh
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Phragmites
- Species:
- Phragmites karka
- USDA Symbol:
- PHKA3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 1000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, brown
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan, golden
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from extensive rhizome system following fire. Fire can temporarily reduce above-ground biomass but does not eliminate established stands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, waterlogged, clayey or silty soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist to waterlogged
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in moist conditions with light exposure. Often propagated vegetatively via rhizome divisions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI