# Reed Canary Grass (*Phalaris arundinacea*)

Reed Canary Grass is a tall grass that grows near water! It’s important for keeping riverbanks healthy.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 11
- **Habitat:** Wetlands and riverbanks
- **Also known as:** Reed Grass

![Reed Canary Grass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426618/objects/5017.jpg)

## Appearance

The Reed Canary Grass is a tall, coarse grass with wide, flat green leaves. Its flowers appear in dense, often purplish or tan spikelets clustered at the top of the stem, forming a narrow, upright plume-like head.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Phalaris

## Interesting facts

- Even though it's grass, some have tried to make paper from it!
- It was once planted to help stop dirt from washing away on riverbanks.
- Some types can grow almost 10 feet tall, taller than a basketball hoop!
- This grass can turn beautiful shades of purple and tan as autumn arrives!

## Special abilities

- **Water Purifier:** Reed Canary Grass can absorb pollutants from water, like a natural filter, helping to clean wetlands and rivers.
- **Super Spreader:** Reed Canary Grass has strong underground stems, letting it spread quickly and take over new areas.
- **Flood Fighter:** It can survive being completely underwater for long periods, making it tough in flood-prone wetlands.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Shelter:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Provides cover and nesting material.
- **Shelter:** [Red-winged Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-winged-blackbird) (*Agelaius phoeniceus*) — Uses dense stands for nesting.
- **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Ducks eat the seeds, especially in fall.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Reed Canary Grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Reed Canary Grass?

60-180 cm

### How wide does Reed Canary Grass spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Reed Canary Grass?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Reed Canary Grass bloom?

Summer

### Is Reed Canary Grass edible?

No

### Is Reed Canary Grass toxic?

Mild

### What is Reed Canary Grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden
- [Ice Age Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ice-age-trail) — Wisconsin, US · National Park
- [Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-l-le-saint-quentin) — Quebec, CA · Park
- [Haight Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haight-village-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District
- [Indian Creek Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/indian-creek-recreation-area) — South Dakota, US · Park
- [J. Edward Roush Lake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/j-edward-roush-lake) — Indiana, US · Natural Landmark

[View all places to see Reed Canary Grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/reed-canary-grass)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Reed Canary Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reed-canary-grass)