PlantFiles: Striped Giant Reed
Arundo donax 'Variegata'

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.

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.

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.

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.

Also known as 'Versicolor'.

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.

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.

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

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.

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