Stem
- Up to 25 ft. tall and 1.5 in. thick; semi-woody, inflexible and hollow except at the nodes; branching usually does not occur until the second year of growth
Leaves
- Alternate; blade is flat, less than 3 ft. long and 1-3 in. wide; edges (margins) are rough textured
- Leaf base is lobed, clasps the stem and is fringed with long hairs
Flower
- Plume-like with numerous fine branches; 1-2 ft. long and light-brown to purple; does NOT produce viable seed
Photo of Giant reed infestation
Other
- Grows best in moist soils; known to occur in Churchill, Clark, Mineral, Nye and Washoe counties
- Perennial; reproduces by rhizomes and stem fragments
- Resembles bamboo; historically planted to reduce erosion and sometimes planted today as an ornamental
Control
- Hand removal of small populations can be effective; mowing and tillage are NOT recommended as they produce root and stem fragments that generate new plants
- Apply glyphosate, imazapyr or triclopyr after seedhead formation in late summer or fall to foliage or cut stump; treat regrowth in spring or summer of the following year
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Giant reed,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
