Giant Reed

Scientific name: Arundo donax L.

Common names: Giant reed, Spanish reed

Native To: Mediterranean Region

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1820s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Introduced as an ornamental and for erosion control

Impact: Crowds out native species; causes fire and flooding problems

Current U.S. Distribution:

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

States Where Reported Invasive: WeedUS Database map

Management Plans: Aquatic Species

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Arundo donax
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Arundo donax L. (Giant Reed) - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS)
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Arundo donax Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Arundo donax - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Distribution

Giant Reed - Weed of the Week May 23, 2005; PDF | 178 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects; Special Note: References

Giant Reed - Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
USDA. Forest Service. Southern Research Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Controls

Plant Profile for Arundo donax - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Giant Reed - Invasive Non-Native Plants
DOI. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Giant Reed - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Team Arundo del Norte
California Environmental Resources Evaluation System.
Control; Research; Special Notes: Forum of local, state, and federal organizations dedicated to the control of Arundo donax (giant reed), where it threatens rivers, creeks, and wetlands in Central and Northern California)

Arundo donax - Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (PDF | 230 KB)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program; Virginia Native Plant Society.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Noxious Wildland Weeds of California
University of California - Berkeley. Integrative Biology.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Giant Reed - Exotic Aquatics on the Move
National Sea Grant Network and Geographic Education Alliances.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 102 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Arundo donax (grass) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed - Weed Index
Environment Bay of Plenty (New Zealand).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax - Plants of Hawai'i
Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Giant Reed
Invasive.org.
Photographs

Arundo donax (Giant Reed)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Element Stewardship Abstract with excellent set of references

Arundo donax
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Giant Reed - Practical Guidebook to the Control of Invasive and Aquatic Wetland Plants of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Region
San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Arundo donax
Santa Margarita and San Luis Rey Watersheds Weed Management Area.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax Fact Sheet
Sonoma Ecology Center. Sonoma Valley Watershed Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts