INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FACT SHEET Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Description: Problem: Origin: Reed canarygrass is a Reed canarygrass forms Reed canarygrass is cool-season, sod-forming dense, persistent, mono- believed to be native to perennial grass that typic stands in wetlands, Europe. However, some produces stems from moist meadows, and ripar- authors believe it to be creeping rhizomes. The ian areas. These stands native to Asia and North stems grow between exclude and displace America as well. The 2 to 6 ft. tall. The leaf desirable native plants present day range of reed blades are flat and up and animals. It constricts canarygrass extends to 0.75 in. wide and 1.5 waterways and irrigation throughout the Old and ft. long. The flowers canals by promoting silt New Worlds, where are in dense, branched deposition. Conversely, it it is found primarily in panicles that can exceed promotes further erosion northern latitudes. 8 in. in length. Immature of soil when located on panicles are compact edges of incised water- and resemble spikes, but courses by causing cut- open at anthesis. Most aways beneath the dense contain three florets, two mats of rhizomes. For of which are infertile. The humans, it can aggravate lemma in the infertile allergies by producing florets is approx. 0.04 abundant pollen. Picture By: Michael Shephard @ www.invasive.org. in. long and in the fertile floret is approx. 0.12-0.18 in. long. The glumes IPSAWG Ranking: are compressed and wingless. HIGH HIGH HIGH Pictures By (From top to bottom): C. Evans, M Shephard and M. Shephard @ www.invasive.org. Distribution: Ecological Potential for Difficulty of Invasive Plants Reed canarygrass is Impact Expansion Control are a Threat to: found in wet meadows, wetlands, marshes, fens, IPSAWG Recommendation: • Forests and old fields, floodplains, wetlands wet prairies, roadsides, • Do not buy, sell or plant reed canarygrass for erosion ditchbanks, streambanks, control, wildlife habitat or landscaping in Indiana. • Native plants lake-shores and shore swales. Any moist, • Only use for forage in cases where extended flood- ing precludes using other species; do not allow seed to • fertile, semi-open to Perennial gardens open habitat provides form on plants. good conditions for • Wildlife this species. Reed This ranking illustrates the results of an assessment conducted canarygrass is found in by the Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group (IPSAWG), which is made up of many organizations and agencies • Lakes and rivers every county in Indiana concerned about invasive plant species. IPSAWG’s goal is to assess and invades most which plant species may threaten natural areas in Indiana and • Human health wetland community types develop recommendations to reduce their use in the state. in the state. For more information about IPSAWG and the assessment tool used • Farmland to rank invasive species, visit their website: www.invasivespecies.IN.gov Date Prepared: 05/07 Control Methods: ALTERNATIVES to reed canarygrass: Many practices can be products are labeled for heads appear and works used to control reed use in wetlands to avoid best in combination with canarygrass (RCG). Most potential adverse impacts other practices. Altering work best when used to aquatic life, such as a site’s hydrology is together. Burning can be frogs and salamanders. another effective control used to reduce RCG in Use a grass specific if the new water depth late spring after it is active herbicide like sethoxydim is greater than 12” and but before natives break or fluazifop on sites high water level can dormancy. Before burning, with desirable native, be maintained through mowing or herbicide non-grass species. If the growing season. application is often used to herbicide is used alone, This prevents seed Prairie cord grass prepare the site. Herbicide it should be used in late germination and kills (Spartina pectinata) can also be used after a summer for maximum the rhizomes. Special burn when active growth translocation to roots. permits may be required resumes (when RCG is 6- Mowing or tilling is often for this treatment and 12” tall). Use glyphosate used before herbicide. effects vary. on sites without native Mowing can be used to Always read and plants prior to reseeding. stress RCG. Mowing follow pesticide label Ensure that any herbicide should occur before seed directions. Eight Easy Ways to Combat Invasive Plants Blue joint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis) You can help stop the spread of invasive plants by following these 8 easy guidelines: 1. Ask for only non- for invasive species, and and natural areas to assist invasive species when you remove invasives before ongoing efforts to diminish acquire plants. Request that they become a problem. If the threat of invasive nurseries and garden plants can’t be removed, plants. centers sell only non- at least prevent them from 7. Help educate your invasive plants. going to seed. community through 2. Seek information on 4. Clean your boots before personal contacts and in invasive plants. Sources and after visiting a natural such settings as garden include botanical gardens, area to prevent the spread clubs and civic groups. horticulturists, of invasive plant seeds. 8. Support public policies Tussock sedge conservationists, and 5. Don’t release aquarium and programs to control (Carex stricta) government agencies. plants into the wild. invasive plants. 3. Scout your property 6. Volunteer at local parks For More Information: On this assessment and IPSAWG: IPSAWG www.invasivespecies.IN.gov On identification and control techniques: The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland Weeds www.tncweeds.ucdavis.edu On native plant alternatives and sources: Switch grass Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (Panicum virgatum) www.inpaws.org Pictures By (Top to Bottom): J. This grant project made possible with United States Forest Service funds Anderson, www.nps.gov, G. Fewless administered by the IDNR, Division of Forestry. and T. Bodner @ USDA - NRCS Plants Database..