Grass Reed Canary another by waterways, animals,another by waterways, peopleand machines. and shatter may whenripe. Seeds bedispersedfrom onewetland to impenetrable matofstems andleaves. inmid-summer The seedsripen in thefall. The shootscollapseinmidto late summer, forming adense, laterally. Growth summer, peaksin early withasecondgrowth spurt for five spring, thenspreadsto seven inearly germination weeks after and creeping rhizomes. The plantproduces leaves and flower stalks grass spreads aggressively canary Reed by prolific seedproduction especially inthespring. canadensis) andorchard glomerata grassDadylis ( ), resemble thenative bluejointgrass (Calamagrostis spread outaggressively. grass may also canary Reed to rapidlyforms adenseclumpandstarts ecotype prairies. Even asasingle invading plant,theEurasian moist with othernative vegetation inhigh-quality doesnotform densestands,it typically andco-exists easily distinguishedfrom theEurasion but ecotype, grass isnot ofreed Ournative ecotype canary soil. are Seeds shiny brownsubsurface incolor. it forms athickrhizomesystem thatdominates the This grass isoneofthefirst to sprout inspring, and inches longwithbranches2to 12inchesinlength. are erectto slightlyspreading andrangefrom 3to 16 inflorescences (flowering cluster) branched spike-like slightly away from thestem.andcompact Dense transparent membrane(theligule), pulltheblade a rough texture onbothsurfaces. To seethelarge and ¼to ¾ inchinwidth.Bladesare flatandhave gradually leafblades3½to 10incheslong tapering 2 to 9feet tall. The with stem is erectandhairless grass isalarge, coarsegrass canary Reed growing naturalized inmuchoftheUnited States. 1800s for forage anderosion control.hasbecome It planted throughout theUnited States sincethe for hasbeenselected itsvigorandhasbeen ecotype Missouri. The Eurasian northern America—including to temperate regions ofEurope, Asia andNorth season, rhizomatous perennial wetland grass native grass (Phalaris arundinacea) isacool- canary Reed Background, Life History Source: Missouri BotanicalGarden Source: Missouri

Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, www.forestryimages.org Mark Frey, The Presidio Trust , Bugwood.org Trust Presidio The Mark Frey, Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio The Lab Archive, Weed Ohio State Bugwood.org University, State Elizabeth J. Czarapata, http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/photos Czarapata, Elizabeth J.

To see the large transparent membrane Reed canary grass closely resembles Reed canary grass is one of the first where the blade meets the stem, pull the orchard grass, but the inflorescence of reed grasses to sprout in the spring. blade slightly away from the stem. canary grass is more narrow and pointed.

Impacts minimize herbicide use, remove the previous year’s dead Reed canary grass forms dense monotypic stands that crowd leaves by burning or mowing before applying herbicide. out native plants and grows too thick to provide suitable To avoid impacting shorter vegetation, apply herbicide to cover for wildlife. Although used as hay for livestock, it is of taller stands of reed canary grass with a wick applicator little value as food for wildlife. It promotes silt deposition and attached to a tractor. can constrict waterways and irrigation canals. Conversely, Another control method is to mow in mid to late when its colonies perch on top of cut banks, it can promote September, then spray reed canary grass in October (after further erosion of soil beneath the dense mats of rhizomes by warm season grasses are dormant) with a 5 percent active causing cutaways where water flows rapidly. ingredient solution of glyphosate. To reduce reed canary grass cover, deplete the seed Control bank and stimulate native seed banks, apply a wick Because reed canary grass has underground rhizomes and application of glyphosate in late May or early June a prolific seed bank, this plant is difficult to eradicate. It is followed by a mid to late summer burn. important to plant native species adapted to the local area immediately after efforts to control or eradicate reed canary Alternative Native Plants grass have been conducted. Virginia wild rye, prairie cordgrass In high-quality areas with a large component of native vegetation, use prescribed burns to help native plants out- For Additional Information compete the reed canary grass. Timing is important because www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/exotic/vegman/twentyon.htm early spring burning may accelerate the invasive species’ www.ipaw.org/invaders/reed_canary_grass/index.aspx spread. Burn in late spring or late fall annually for five to six www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/reed-canary- years. If the grass is too green to burn, apply 1.5 percent active grass.pdf ingredient solution of glyphosate to “brown off” the grass. Glyphosate formulated for use in wetlands will kill reed www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/fact/reed_canary.htm canary grass (especially young plants) when applied to www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/aqua011.html foliage. Apply in early spring when most native plant species www.paflora.org/Phalaris%20arundinacea.pdf are dormant. To maximize growing shoot exposure and to

www.MissouriConservation.org Reed Canary Grass For more information or to report a Missouri Department of Conservation population, contact your local Missouri Invasive Species Coordinator Department of Conservation office, e-mail P.O. Box 180 [email protected], or write: Jefferson City, MO 65102–0180

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