Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Phalaris arundinacea

reed canary grass

Vigorous perennial grass with a running rootstock, forming an extensive colony of upright stems, to 1.5m tall in flower, bearing narrow, linear, mid-green leaves to 35cm long, and narrow panicles to 17cm long of pale green flower spikelets in summer

Other common names
canary reed
sword grass
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Chalk
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Poaceae
Native to the UK
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted
Genus

Phalaris can be annual or rhizomatous perennials grasses with relatively broadly linear leaves and small green flower spikelets in open panicles

Name status

Correct

Plant range
N & S temp. regions

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any soil in full sun or partial shade. Can spread quickly, so suited to covering large areas, but has the potential to become a nuisance and may need to be controlled

Propagation

Propagate by division from mid-spring to midsummer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Ground cover
Pruning

Cut back dead foliage in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.