Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Habitat
Saline Soils, Sandy areas
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-10
5-8
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
-
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Linear
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Stem Planting
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Do not prune during shooting season, Prune after harvesting, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
-
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, flushing of face, wheezing
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
Skin inflammation
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Agroforestry, Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, soil stabilisation
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmoiliant
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Flowers
Other Uses
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used in making musical instruments, Wood is used in construction
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ARUNDO donax
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Giant Reed
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In German
Pfahlrohr
Heidekraut
In French
Arundo donax
bruyère
In Spanish
Arundo donax
brezo
In Greek
Arundo donax
ερείκη
In Portuguese
Cana-do-reino
urze
In Polish
Lasecznica trzcinowata
wrzos
In Latin
Arundo donax
Heather
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Clade
Commelinids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Giant Reed and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Giant Reed and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Giant Reed and Heather as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Giant Reed is Diaphoretic, Diuretic and Emmoiliant whereas of Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Giant Reed has beauty benefits as follows: Making cosmetics and Skin cleanser while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Making cosmetics and Skin cleanser.
Compare Facts of Giant Reed vs Heather
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Giant Reed vs Heather and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Giant Reed are allergic conjunctivitis, flushing of face and wheezing whereas of Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Giant Reed has no showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Giant Reed is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Giant Reed and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.