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
Photo of giant reed
 

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  
Photo of giant reed plant

 

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 plant with hairy ends
 

Root

  • Creeping rhizomes
Photo of giant reed plants growing on the side of a road.
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

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

Also of Interest:

 
Giant Reed
This fact sheet contains extensive information on Giant reed by discussing the features, possible actions, and benefits to controlling giant reed.
 Johnson, W. and Strom, S. 2021, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-06-21
 

Associated Programs

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy that reduces pests to tolerable levels with lower costs for the pest manager or home gardener and minimal effect on the environment. The IPM program at University of Nevada, Reno Extension focuses on identification and public education with resources for the community including classes, Spanish language resources and a pest directory.

Master Gardeners at tabling event

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Weed Warriors Invasive Weed Training cb

Weed Warriors Invasive Weed Training

The Nevada Noxious Weed Education Program, Weed Warriors program tackles the growing problem of spreading noxious and nuisance weeds on public and private land.