Giant Reed

Arundo donax

Found in roadsides, waste dumps, other disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-30

Harmful

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 14–30 feet
Spread: 5–9 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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Arundo donax — whole plant photograph — (c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Alabama.

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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Green, pink or white.
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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: January to December

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Recorded in 33 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

2CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Arundo

Lerema acciusClouded Skipper, Corn Leaf tier
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–10b
Flower color: Brown/copper, gray/silver, pink or red
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color: Green

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “September to August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Brown/copper, gray/silver, pink or red” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “14–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Spread · “5–9 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNA
Global rank	G5
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source