Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > Is this plant a weed? > Grass > Reed Canarygrass
Reed Canarygrass
Phalaris arundinacea L.
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Found in:
- Non-lawn areas, wetlands, shoreline areas; not found in lawns
Characteristics:
- Perennial grass that reaches a height of 3 - 4’
- Grows best during cooler temperatures (spring, fall)
- Leaf blades are flat, rough along the edges and lack hairs
- Sheaths are hairless and rounded
- Stems are bluish-green in color
- Flower stalks reach a height of 6 – 7’
- Flower heads are pale straw-colored
- Seed heads are initially compact, branches spread as they mature
- Roots consist of aggressively creeping thick underground stems (rhizomes)
Significance
- Minnesota Invasive Weed that spreads aggressively via seeds and rhizomes
- Not commonly a lawn weed as it is intolerant of regular lawn mowing
- Used as a beneficial pasture plant
Plants that look similar:
- Orchard Grass
- Smooth Bromegrass
- Timothy
