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Phalaris arundinacea and cvs. (Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass)

Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner

(Based on 2 user reviews)

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Hardiness Zones:

Botanical Name: Phalaris arundinacea and cvs. fah-LAR-iss ah-run-din-AY-see-ah

Common Name: Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass Genus: Phalaris

This evergreen, rhizomatous, perennial grass has an upright habit, with bamboo-like foliage to 14 inches tall. Flat, linear leaves are sometimes striped yellow. Pale green spikelets turn buff with age.
Noteworthy characteristics: Used extensively for buffer strips, shoreline plantings, and forage, it is an extremely aggressive invader of wetlands in the Midwest.
Care: Needs to be contained if grown in a mixed or herbaceous border. Adaptable to all soil conditions.
Propagation: Divide from mid-spring to midsummer.
Problems: Ergot, rust, smut, brown patch, and leaf spots.

Overview
User Reviews
Photos

Height	3 ft. to 6 ft.
Growth Habit	Spreads
Growth Pace	Fast Grower;Invasive/Aggressive Grower
Light	Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture	Medium to Wet
Characteristics	Showy Foliage
Bloom Time	Summer
Foliage Color	Colorful/Burgundy Foliage
Flower Color	Green Flower
Uses	Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Naturalizing, Waterside
Type	Grasses

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posted by speedweeder
5/25/2010
Region: Northeast
Zone: 7

very pretty, but messy spreader. also dies out in the middle, so it looks even messier as it ages! constantly finding shoots, even several years after digging out!

posted by judgehort
1/25/2010
Region: Northeast
Zone: 7

I grew Phalaris [the variegated 'Picta'] in Zone 5 until I grew annoyed at trying to keep this running grass contained, and so throttled it! Now, I watch my next door neighbour struggling to keep her burgeoning spread contained. I await further developments.

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