Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Southern Europe
  
Mexico, Central America
  
Types
Arundo, Carrizo
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Saline Soils, Sandy areas
  
Tropical areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-10
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
  
12-10
  
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
  
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Oblong to lance-shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Stem Planting
  
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering
  
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Do not prune during shooting season, Prune after harvesting, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
  
14-14-14 Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Free of serious pests and diseases
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, flushing of face, wheezing
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai
  
Borders, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmoiliant
  
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
  
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
  
Other Uses
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used in making musical instruments, Wood is used in construction
  
Showy Purposes
  
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
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
ARUNDO donax
  
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
  
Common Name
Giant Reed
  
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
  
In Hindi
नरकट
  
Mexican Heather
  
In German
Pfahlrohr
  
Mexican Heather
  
In French
Arundo donax
  
Mexicaine Heather
  
In Spanish
Arundo donax
  
Heather mexicana
  
In Greek
Arundo donax
  
Μεξικού Heather
  
In Portuguese
Cana-do-reino
  
Mexican Heather
  
In Polish
Lasecznica trzcinowata
  
Mexican Heather
  
In Latin
Arundo donax
  
Mexicanus Heather
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Myrtales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Lythraceae
  
Genus
Arundo
  
Cuphea
  
Clade
Commelinids
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Lythroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available