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Arundo donax  L.
Giant reed
© 2013 Miriam Sachs Martin
© 2020 Jennifer Mo
© 2018 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2019 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2018 Amy Eberwein
© 2021 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2022 Jennifer Mo
© 2024 Friends of Five Creeks volunteers
© 2024 Courtney McCammon
© 2024 Laguna Canyon Foundation
© 2024 Charles Gibbons
© 2024 Sandy Leatherman
© 2018 Henry DiRocco
© 2023 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2023 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2020 HARDEEP BAINS
© 2014 Ramona Robison
© 2019 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2024 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2018 michelle peruzzi
© 2021 Mary Herr
Arundo donax is a perennial grasslike herb that is not native to California.
Cal-IPC rating: high
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Observation Search
~51721 records in California
redone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Arundo
Family: Poaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Wetlands: Occurs usually in wetlands, occasionally in non wetlands

Communities: wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + JEF + PLANTS + POWO

Alternate Names:
PLANTSArundo donax var. versicolor
PLANTSArundo versicolor
Information about  Arundo donax from other sources

Removal (YouTube): County of San Diego

Global Invasive Species Database: management information

[Wikipedia] Greater Middle East native, Invasive: Arundo donax is a tall perennial cane. It is one of several so-called reed species. It has several common names including giant cane, elephant grass, carrizo, arundo, Spanish cane, Colorado river reed, wild cane, and giant reed. Arundo and donax are respectively the old Latin and Greek names for reed.[3] Arundo donax grows in damp soils, either fresh or moderately saline, and is native to the Greater Middle East.[4][5] It has been widely planted and naturalised in the mild temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of both hemispheres, especially in the Mediterranean, California, the western Pacific and the Caribbean and is considered invasive in North America and Oceania.[6][4][5][7][8] It forms dense stands on disturbed sites, sand dunes, in wetlands and riparian habitats. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

[Cal-IPC] Invasive: Arundo donax (giant reed) is a tall perennial grass (family Poaceae) that typically forms dense stands on disturbed sites, sand dunes, riparian areas, and wetlands. It has invaded central California River valleys in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento and San Joaquin River valleys and is also increasing in the North Coast region. Arundo donax is threatening California's riparian ecosystems by outcompeting native species, such as willows, for water. Cal-IPC Rating: High (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2025).