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Scientific Name
Phragmites australis
Family Name
POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)
Common Name
Common Reed (grass)
Status
Height
3m
Flowers
Plume-like, at the top of the tall, straight stems.
Fruit
Form
Vigorous, emergent aquatic resembling bamboo
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Waratah-Wynyard; West Tamar
Communities
Habitat Notes
Common in lowland areas on the margins of streams, rivers, lakes and dams, sometimes found in irrigation and drainage ditches, and in brackish water and tidal systems.
Site Tolerance
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
Soil Tolerance
Clay
General Notes
Can also be grown by division in spring, but this is labour intensive. Requires full sun and a large pool, needs to be contained within a large box. Cut back in winter, as stems die down after flowering. The underground stems can be eaten, and taste like bamboo shoots. Uses: making reed pens, and leaves are sometimes used for weaving. Said to have medicinal properties. In Chinese herbal medicine, the underground part of the stem growing under mud (not in the water) is used, and is reputed to be useful for acute arthritis, jaundice and food poisoning. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Grown from seed which germinates quickly, although not all populations seem to set viable seed. Collect seed from April to early July. Seed has an after-ripening period of 2-3 months, and requires several months of dry storage. Separate seed from seedheads before sowing, by rubbing or beating seedheads against water, as they contain chemical inhibitors. Sunlight and warmth are required for germination.
Seed Treatment Method
Bog method
Seed Storage Life
Seed remains viable for at least 2 years.
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Germination Time
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Yes
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-11-03
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith