Common Reed

Phragmites australis

Found in brackish and freshwater marshes, dredge-spoil deposit islands, ditches. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 76%

Height: About 13 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist to standing water

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Salix humilis
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to wet. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: bloom season
Northern Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Pink or white.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: bloom season
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Moist to standing water. Flowers: Pink or white.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: bloom season

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: August to October
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

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Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 53 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 2

Freshwater marshes

Open, herb-covered wetlands with fresh, non-tidal water.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

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

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 148 animals.

Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Sora
Porzana carolina
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
Birds. 3 shared habitats
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Yellow Rail
Coturnicops noveboracensis
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Common Loon
Gavia immer
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Eastern Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Birds. 2 shared habitats

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Phragmites

Apamea sordensBordered Apamea, Rustic Shoulder-Knot
Gabara subnivosellaX
Leucania linitaReed Wainscot, Linen Wainscot
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Poanes viatorBroad-Winged Skipper

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
Flower color: Gray/silver or purple
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “August to October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Gray/silver or purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · 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
Height · “About 13 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
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)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Frequent standing water; Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source