Giant Reed
2
5
8Will it grow where I live?
Giant Reed is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
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Profile
- Family
- Poaceae
- Habit
- perennial
- Height
- 6 m
- Spread
- 4 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 20 years
- First yield
- after 2 years
- Hardiness
- zone 8–10
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – near water
- pH
- 5.3 – 8.6
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest |
Uses
⚠️ Hazards
Toxicity: toxic
Frequently asked questions
Giant Reed: how big does it get?
Giant Reed (Arundo donax) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4 m. Growth is very fast.
Giant Reed: what site does it need?
Giant Reed tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – near water. The pH may lie between 5.3 and 8.6.
Giant Reed: is it hardy?
Giant Reed is listed as hardy in zone 8–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Giant Reed: will it grow in Central Europe?
Giant Reed is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Giant Reed: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from July to September.
Giant Reed: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from August to October.
Giant Reed: is it poisonous?
Giant Reed is classified as toxic. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Giant Reed: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 2/10, Medicinal 5/10, Other uses 8/10.
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