Reed canary-grass
Phalaris arundinacea · Poaceae
📷 Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant reed canary-grass: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Phalaris arundinacea
- Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June
- Mature height
- 150 cm
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (zone 3)
- Origin
- Temperate zones of Europe, Asia and North America
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Baldingera loves water and constant moisture. It grows very quickly.
The common mistake
Planting it without limits in a small garden: it becomes invasive and suffocating for neighboring plants.
The pro's trick
Mulch thickly under the baldingera with a generous layer: this slightly slows growth without stopping it, and keeps the rhizomes more concentrated.
Seasonal watch
In autumn, cut back the dry foliage to ground level before it flops over.
Care
Watering
Ribbon grass thrives in moist environments and constantly wet soils. Water regularly to keep the substrate cool, particularly during active growing periods. It flourishes at the water's edge or in marshy areas, but also tolerates ordinary gardens with sustained watering.
Light exposure
Place ribbon grass in partial shade or indirect sunlight. It can also tolerate direct sun if the soil remains sufficiently moist. Partial shade protects the foliage from scorching in very hot climates.
Pruning and cutting
Cut ribbon grass down to ground level in late winter, before growth resumes. This grass regenerates vigorously in spring. You can also remove faded flower spikes after flowering for better aesthetics.
Soil
Ribbon grass prefers moist to very moist soils, rich in organic matter. It adapts to heavy clay soils. Improve drainage if necessary by adding well-decomposed compost when planting.
Fertilizer
A balanced fertilizer application in spring is generally sufficient. If the soil is not very rich, provide an annual application of compost or organic fertilizer. Ribbon grass is undemanding and grows quickly without excessive supplementation.
Diseases and pests
Ribbon grass is generally robust and rarely affected by diseases. In very humid conditions, occasional monitoring for fungal rusts can be useful. Ensure good air circulation to prevent stagnant humidity at the base of the clump.
Did you know?
Ribbon grass, also called 'meadow reed', was long cultivated in Europe as a fodder crop for livestock feed. Its creeping rhizomes and spectacular growth made it invasive in some wet ecosystems of North America, where it colonizes natural marsh areas. Its scientific name evokes its resemblance to common reed (Phragmites).
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
- Rough reedgrassCalamagrostis arundinacea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.