50# REED CANARY/GRASS-CTD50%

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a coarse, tall perennial grass that grows up to 3 to 9 feet high. It is highly invasive in wetland environments, easily identifiable by its large size and dense monotypic stands.

Key identification features include:

• Leaves: Bright to bluish-green, flat, and rough-textured, up to 10 inches long and \(\frac{1}{4}\) to \(\frac{3}{4}\) of an inch wide. Leaves stick out at a 45-degree angle from the stem.

• Ligule: One of the most defining traits is a tall, transparent, papery membrane (the ligule) where the leaf blade meets the stem.

• Stems: Erect, smooth, and hairless, with a hollow, often reddish-colored top.

• Flowers/Seed Heads: Blooming from May to mid-June, the flower spikes are densely clustered. They start green or with a purplish tinge, and eventually fade to a straw-beige color as seeds form.

• Growth Pattern: Forms thick, impenetrable mats and dense colonies via underground roots (rhizomes). In winter, the dead plants turn a characteristic bleached tan color.