Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Gardeners Supply - Mail Order Plants - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries Mail Order - Flowering Bulbs - Winter Landscaping

PlantFiles: Striped Giant Reed
Arundo donax 'Variegata'

 
  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Family: Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Arundo (a-RUN-doh) (Info)
Species: donax (DON-aks) (Info)
Cultivar: Variegata

Synonym:Arundo donax var. versicolor
Synonym:Arundo versicolor

3 vendors have this plant for sale.

14 members have or want this plant for trade.

Category:
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo

Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)

Spacing:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color:
Cream/Tan

Bloom Time:
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Blue-Green

Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
This plant is resistant to deer
Provides winter interest

Soil pH requirements:
Unknown - Tell us

Patent Information:
Non-patented

Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
By air layering

Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed

Click thumbnail
to view:

By hczone6
Thumbnail #1 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #2 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #3 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #4 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #5 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #6 of Arundo donax by hczone6

By hczone6
Thumbnail #7 of Arundo donax by hczone6

There are a total of 17 photos.
Click here to view them all!

Profile:

6 positives
4 neutrals
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Positive mswestover On Oct 3, 2009, mswestover from Yulee, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

Started with a three inch high plug with a couple of sprigs of growth. It is now about six feet high and two feet around. I keep it in a dry area because I can see it would love to spread everywhere.

Positive riocloudy On Aug 13, 2007, riocloudy from Nevada, MO wrote:

One of the showiest plants in the spring garden. It freezes back to the ground here in zone 5b but comes back in the spring from the ground. Thought I had lost it with the late April freeze in 2007, but no it went to the ground and bounced right back.

Positive Turken On Apr 8, 2007, Turken from Lower Lake, CA wrote:

Although it is invasive in creek beds etc. It in not invasive where I live. I have a 20 year old grove of it. Great for privacy and wind blockage. I use cut stalks for garden poles and animal feed.

Positive Jay_9 On Sep 25, 2006, Jay_9 from Jersey
United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:

Seems to be 2 versions available? Plain A. donax 'variegata' with white stripes and A. donax 'versicolor' with cream stripes as well as the normal green. My garden centre has all 3 on sale. Grows best here (zone 9a, South coast UK) in wet, but tolerates dry soil well.

Neutral Gabrielle On May 25, 2006, Gabrielle from Washington, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:

Also known as 'Versicolor'.

Positive blckwolf256 On Apr 7, 2005, blckwolf256 from Springville, AL (Zone 7a) wrote:

I just love this plant. They start out striped...but as the season moves on, they loose the white stripe, and turn dusty green. I never cut mine back, because the brown stalks get leaves again the next year.
I don't have a problem with it taking over, because I mow weekly around the area I have it growing.

Positive Toxicodendron On Sep 23, 2004, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

My plant starts out with a good deal of white striping, but as summer progresses, I see a lot more yellow and less white in the leaves. Dies to the ground each winter, so it is not invasive here in zone 6. Appreciates watering but is drought tolerant, nonetheless. No insect problems so far. Mine is in partial shade, which causes the stems to lean and stretch, so I think full sun would be better.

Neutral gardenwife On Apr 29, 2004, gardenwife from Newark, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:

Where I live, it dies back to the root every year and does not spread much.

Neutral dave On Apr 16, 2004, dave from Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

This is common to everywhere I've ever lived. It was growing wild in Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. It looks like a huge corn stalk (10' or higher) and partially resembles bamboo. It puts out a corn-like tassle on the top.

It is extremely invasive, apparantly, taking over creeks and riversides.

Neutral talinum On Sep 2, 2001, talinum from Kearney, NE (Zone 5a) wrote:

LEAVES: Leaf blades are 1" to 2" wide and can be as long as 3' to 4'. Leaves are smooth, blue-green, alternate on the stem, and arching. The stems are 1 1/4" in diameter. The leaves resemble those of a corn plant.

FLOWERS: The inflorescence is a many-branched panicle, up to 24" long, usually erect, which is at first a reddish brown, turning to white at maturity. Blooms in late fall. In climates with early frost, it will not bloom.

Best used as a specimen or accent plant. Stems should be cut back in early January.

Native to southern Europe

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Irvington, Alabama
Phenix City, Alabama
Smiths, Alabama
Springville, Alabama
Calistoga, California
Clayton, California
San Leandro, California
Brooksville, Florida
Glen Saint Mary, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Lecanto, Florida
Panama City Beach, Florida
Yulee, Florida
Ewing, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
New Orleans, Louisiana
Poolesville, Maryland
Marietta, Mississippi
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Sheldon, Missouri
Monroe, North Carolina
Bucyrus, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
Canby, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Conway, South Carolina
Lenoir City, Tennessee
Middleton, Tennessee
Desoto, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Lexington, Virginia
Port Orchard, Washington



We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2009 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America