Botanical Name: Arundo donax 'Variegata'
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Common Name: Striped Giant Reed  
Plant photo of: Arundo donax 'Variegata'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

6-12'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green, White, Yellow, Variegated

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

Japanese, Mediterranean, Tropical, Water Garden, Wetlands

 

Accenting Features

Silhouette

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Hedge, Screen, Wind Break

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Similar to the species, Striped giant reed is a bit smaller and less inclined to be invasive. It has creamy yellow and white variegated leaves, with the coloration more pronounced in the spring. Grows 6 to 12 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Does not flower dependably. Turns beige with the first hard frost.
Grow in full sun to part shade in nearly any soil; withholding water is a great way to control its spread. Thickets can become quite dense; cut back to the ground in February or March to keep plant neat. Plants may not flower before the onset of winter. In some regions of the country, this plant has become invasive, but our freezing winters and dry summers makes this easier to control; though it might be best to avoid planting Giant Reed within riparian corridor areas. Canes are useful as garden stakes, fencing, and thatching roofs of garden structures.