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common reed | Plant Finder | Fill My Garden

Home/Plants/Orchids

Plants > Orchids

common reed

Phragmites australis

Genus: Phragmites
Family: Poaceae
Common Names: bennels, carrizo, Danube grass, ditch reed, nal, Norfolk reed, pole reed, spire reed, spires

About this plant

P. australis is a vigorous reed grass to 3m in height, spreading by rhizomes and forming an extensive colony of erect, leafy, robust stems with drooping linear leaves which turn light brown in autumn, and terminal dark purple flowering panicles from late summer

Growing Information

Height

2.5-4 Metres

Spread

2.5-4 Metres

Hardiness

Foliage

Deciduous

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Soil

ClayChalkLoamSandy

AcidAlkaline

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Neutral

Moisture

Poorly DrainedMoist But Well Drained

Aspect

West FacingEast Facing

Exposure

ShelteredExposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Grow in deep, moderately fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun; it needs ample space and is potentially invasive in favourable conditions. In riverside, lake or pond areas can be grown in large containers sunk in water to restrict growth and provides ideal habitats for rare and endangered birds

Pruning

Cut back in late autumn or winter

Propagation

Propagate by division from early spring to early summer

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Generally disease free

Garden Uses

Uses

Banks SlopesWildflower Meadow

Season of Interest

AutumnSpringSummer

Size & Characteristics

Height

2.5-4 Metres

Spread

2.5-4 Metres

Habit

Floating

Time to Full Height

Ten To Twenty Years