Chinese Silver Grass Poison Hemlock Common Reed Miscanthus sinensis Phragmites australis

Description - Description - Description - • Loose plume-like heads of pale pink to red that turn • Small white flowers clustered in large compound • Herbaceous perennial grass with hollow stout silver in fall; on tall stalks that persist through that are 1.5-2.5 inches wide. stems that can grow up to 15 feet. winter. • Hollow stems are purple mottled, erect, smooth, • Lanceolate leaves up to 2 feet long. • Basal leaves arise from a large central clump. and between 2-10 feet tall. • Large feathery plumes of flowers develop by mid- • Individual leaves taper to a point and are 3-4 feet • Fern like leaves are alternate and basal, upper summer. long. leaves progressively smaller. • Purple/brown flowers turn tan or gray and seeds set • Margins are sharp and slightly serrated. • Leaves are 3-4 times pinnately divided; the through fall and winter. • Seeds are rough with a twisted bristle tip. enlarged petiole base sheaths the stem. • Spreads primarily by underground or Distribution - Thrives in sunny wetland habitats. . Distribution - Invades riparian areas, ditches, old Occurs throughout the U.S. fields, roadsides throughout most of North America. Distribution - Can invade roadsides, old fields, shores Threat - Spreads rapidly by rhizomes and can quickly of reservoirs and forest openings following fires. Threat - All parts of the are toxic to humans and take over areas, creating a monoculture. Rhizomes can Has spread throughout the eastern United States to animals when eaten. Prolific seed production, extend 30 feet in one year. Produces large quantities of Colorado and California. aggressive growth habits and tolerance of shade allow seeds. Monocultures as large as 7000 acres have been rapid spread which overwhelms native vegetative cover. documented in other states. Threat - Aggressive, may form colonies and produce a Not valuable to wildlife as food or shelter. large number of airborne seeds. Can also resprout from Control - Apply Rodeo herbicide to the leaves when pieces of . Highly flammable and poses a fire Control - Small infestations can be dug up or cut back are tasseling to translocate the chemical to the hazard as burning plants can have flame lengths of 30 before flowering. Do not compost flowers as they can rhizome. Re-treatments are often needed due to feet. go to seed. Plants and the first year rosette phase can be denseness of foliage and inability of spray to reach all treated with 2,4-D in early spring or late fall. Repeated plants at one time. Cutting with hedge trimmers just Control - Small patches may be grubbed, but all of applications may be required to deplete the seed bank. before seed set can reduce vigor. Treatment will be roots must be removed. Plant must be actively growing needed for several years. for herbicidal control. Use a 2% glyphosate solution in Similar Plants - Cow () fall or late spring. Cover the leaves to the point of has palmately compound leaves. Water hemlock Similar Plants - Giant reed is similar in appearance runoff, but be careful not to spray desirable vegetation. ( maculata) has more delicate umbels and twice but is usually found in upland sites. compound leaves. Similar Plants - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Origin - Uncertain, Phragmites australis is found on which has a three-pronged flower spike resembling a Origin - Eurasia. Introduced to the U.S. as a garden every continent except Antarctica. turkey’s foot. Sugarcane plumegrass (Saccharum plant. giganteum), is differentiated by its longer flower stalk (up to twelve feet) and shorter leaves (to one and a half feet).

Origin - Asia. Introduced to the U.S. as an ornamental.

Information and resources provided by TN & SE Exotic Pest Plant Information and resources provided by TN & SE Exotic Pest Plant Information and resources provided by TN & SE Exotic Pest Plant Councils (tneppc.org and se-eppc.org), Plant Conservation Alliance- Councils (tneppc.org and se-eppc.org), Plant Conservation Alliance- Councils (tneppc.org and se-eppc.org), Plant Conservation Alliance- Alien Plant Working Group, The Nature Conservancy, and the USDA . Alien Plant Working Group, The Nature Conservancy, and the USDA . Alien Plant Working Group, The Nature Conservancy, and the USDA .