Phalaris - Shepherd's Ribbon: Cultivation and Care

Description and Botany

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Phalaris are plants from the Poaceae family, previously known as grasses. The genus Phalaris includes about twenty species found on all continents except Antarctica, in various dry and wet environments. Only Phalaris arundinacea is truly cultivated in our gardens. This species is native to Canada and has naturalised throughout Europe and the northern United States, where it can grow up to 1,500 m in altitude. Phalaris arundinacea is indeed a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to -30°C.

Phalaris arundinacea is a perennial grass, growing in clumps and featuring elongated, black, scaly rhizomes. During its growth, the plant reveals firm, upright culms (stems) that can reach heights of up to 200 cm for the typical species. These “stems” are adorned with alternate, sheathing leaves. These ribbon-like leaves are green for the typical species but can take on other hues depending on the varieties. The deciduous foliage turns straw to light beige in autumn, remains decorative in winter, and is replaced by new shoots in spring. Shepherd’s Ribbon quickly forms a dense clump with medium green foliage for the typical species, striated with green and white for the ‘Picta’ variety, golden foliage for ‘Pure Gold’, or purple at the panicles and bases of the stems with cream-striped foliage in the case of ‘Picta Feesey’.

Phalaris arundinacea spikelet (© Matt Lavin) and botanical plate

From late May to July, this grass produces terminal panicles, fine and compact, less than 20 cm long, composed of pale green spikelets sometimes tinged with purple, which yellow over the summer.

The typical species can quickly become invasive with its two-metre height and unlimited spread. Fortunately, cultivated varieties of Phalaris arundinacea such as ‘Picta’ or ‘Pure Gold’ are more compact and much less invasive.

Phalaris can be used to stabilise slopes, as well as the edges of waterways or ponds. They can also be grown within a natural swimming pool lagoon due to their filtering and oxygenating properties.

Phalaris arundinacea, Phalaris arundinacea ‘Picta’, spike of Phalaris paradoxa, Phalaris ‘Picta Feesey’ (© L Enking)

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Our favourite varieties

Phalaris arundinaceae

A rhizomatous perennial plant for banks or pond edges. This ribbon-leaved grass closely resembles reed, with its large feathery inflorescences from spring to summer. Common in nature yet astonishing.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

See the full description

Phalaris arundinacea Picta

Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta' is a rhizomatous perennial plant for banks or pond edges. This tall grass with broad ribbon-like leaves striped vertically in white closely resembles reed, featuring a spreading tuft habit and displaying large feathery inflorescences from spring to summer. It is a bright, somewhat wild, and very striking plant.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the full description

Planting Phalaris

Where to Plant the Shepherd’s Ribbon?

The Shepherd’s Ribbon thrives in full sun or partial shade. However, for the ‘Picta’ variety, be cautious as the variegation of the foliage tends to lose its intensity in overly shaded conditions.

Phalaris tolerates any type of soil: acidic, neutral, or calcareous; dry or wet. Ideally, it should be planted at the edge of a water feature or even directly in the water at a depth not exceeding 20 cm. A soil rich in humus, even heavy and remaining cool to moist all year round, allows this grass to grow vigorously and perform at its best in no time.

The Shepherd’s Ribbon, especially the variegated or coloured varieties, can be incorporated into perennial or bush borders. Phalaris is perfect for greening an area under the canopy of large trees, provided the shade is not too dense. This grass helps to stabilise slopes and the banks of ponds and streams. The False Reed Canary Grass can also be used in large isolated clumps or in groups with other grasses.

Phalaris arundinacea ‘Strawberries and Cream’ (© FD Richards)

When to Plant Phalaris?

Although autumn and spring are the best planting times, Phalaris can be planted in pots or young plants all year round, thanks to its great vigour and rapid recovery. Just avoid extreme heat and frost periods.

How to Plant False Reed Canary Grass?

• In borders: make a hole twice as wide and twice as deep as the root ball. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Place the root ball at the bottom of the hole, bring the soil around it, and then lightly firm the soil around the base. Water each plant thoroughly with a good watering can. You can plant with the pot in the ground or place a rhizome barrier around the plants to contain them.
• At the water’s edge: you can plant phalaris on the bank, but also “with its feet in the water” at a maximum depth of 20 cm. In this case, submerge the plant in its container or in a basket-type container for aquatic plants;
• In pots: use a large pot (10 L) with drainage holes and a substrate that retains water well, such as a special shrub compost. Do not grow the standard species in a pot as it becomes too large.

Just 3 young plants for 1 m² will already create a visually attractive effect in the first year. Phalaris can spread quickly due to its rhizomatous roots. This is perfect if you want a vigorous groundcover, but to contain the plant in a border, consider a rhizome barrier, or prefer pot cultivation.

Maintenance, pruning and care

Amendments and Fertiliser Additions

Phalaris prefers fertile soils, but it tolerates poor soils perfectly well. Therefore, it is unnecessary to add fertiliser or amendments. A simple application of compost at its base after the annual pruning is perfectly suitable.

Watering

Care should be taken to keep the soil consistently moist during the year of planting. Afterwards, once well established, phalaris can even withstand long periods of drought.

Pruning

Every year, at the end of winter in March, the foliage should be cut back to ground level. Do not do this too late, or you risk cutting the young shoots of the year. For certain variegated varieties like ‘Picta’, you can cut back a second time at the end of spring to encourage the plant to produce entirely new shoots.

Possible diseases

The shepherd’s ribbon is highly resistant to diseases and parasitic pests. This grass can be occasionally affected by rust, a fungal disease that spreads in warm and humid weather. When phalaris is affected, discoloured spots appear on the upper side of the leaves, along with orange or brown pustules (hence the name rust) on the underside. Rust weakens the plant, leading to slower growth. To combat rust, it is advisable to remove the affected parts.

→ Learn more in our advice sheet: Diseases and pests of ornamental grasses.

Multiplication

The Shepherd’s Ribbon spreads through its rootstock, quickly forming an excellent groundcover. To multiply the plant, you can divide the larger clumps of phalaris by cutting pieces with a spade. You should then quickly replant these small fragments in suitable locations. This operation can be carried out from May to July or in early autumn (October).

 It is worth noting that the type species, Phalaris arundinacea, self-seeds in the garden if conditions are favourable.

Association

By the Banks of a Natural Pool

A Phalaris arundinacea will thrive at the water’s edge, even slightly submerged. To maintain the very natural appearance of this plant, let’s opt for native bank plants or those with a very “Nature” look! We will choose a Marsh Marigold ‘Polypetala’ with its golden-yellow spring flowering, but especially its very rounded foliage providing a remarkable contrast with the upright culms of the Ribbon Grass. Let’s not let the Reed Warblers provide the only verticality in the arrangement! A few metres from their clumps, we will plant another imposing perennial that thrives in moist soils: a Meadowsweet, Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’, which will add volume and delightful feathery blooms of a beautiful bright pink. To contrast with the foliage of the Meadowsweet, while also echoing the ribbon-like leaves of the Phalaris and the yellow flowers of the Marsh Marigold, we can try some sweet flags or Japanese rushes. A few clumps of Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ with their very bright semi-evergreen foliage will highlight the beauty of the other perennials. And how about a little thistle? The Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ with its magenta heads will provide little colourful finishing touches to complete the picture.

Phalaris alongside Caltha palustris, Filipendula, and Cirsiums rivulare

Under the Canopy of Large Trees

This time, we need to choose a very bright phalaris! A few clumps of Phalaris arundinacea ‘Picta’ with cream-white margined leaves on a green background will form a vigorous and effective groundcover. To accompany this groundcover, several points must be kept in mind: partial shade, relatively dry soil, root competition with the tree AND with the phalaris. Therefore, we need perennials that can hold their own and thrive in these conditions. A beautiful Hungarian Bear’s Breeches will meet these conditions. Likewise, some small sedges with variegated foliage: Carex morrowii ‘Aureovariegata’. Another good vigorous groundcover, but in a completely different style from the Phalaris, to provide a contrast in form and soften the rigid aspect of the phalaris: the large-flowered comfrey or Symphytum grandiflorum ‘Hidcote Blue’. Here and there, a few Corsican Hellebores scattered about will provide lovely evergreen foliage as well as very early season blooms.

Phalaris alongside Bear’s Breeches and comfrey

→ Discover more association ideas with Phalaris in our advice sheet!

Anecdotes and remarks

• Some species of Phalaris are toxic to livestock as they contain gramine, an alkaloid. Phalaris arundinacea, Phalaris aquatica, and Phalaris brachystachys also contain other toxic alkaloids. In contrast, these alkaloids are not detected in Phalaris californica, Phalaris canariensis, Phalaris minor, and in hybrids of Phalaris arundinacea with Phalaris aquatica;
• The toxic elements found in some phalaris have been known since antiquity as psychotropic and hallucinogenic;
• Phalaris arundinacea and Phalaris aquatica are considered invasive exotic species in wet environments in North America and the Southern Hemisphere. However, their invasive character is exploited in biomass production, in the form of briquettes or pellets, as fuel for biomass power plants or as fuel in individual boilers. Furthermore, this plant tolerates contaminated and poor soils and also helps to decontaminate them;
• The species Phalaris arundinacea has been known for centuries as fodder, roofing material, and raw material for paper pulp;
• Phalaris arundinacea has a multitude of vernacular names: weapon needle, canary seed, false reed canary seed, reed canary seed, baldinger, false reed baldinger, couch grass, ribbon couch grass, fromenteau, ribbon grass, water plant community, phalaris reed, variegated reed, ribbon reed, ribbon, Virgin’s ribbon;
• The species name “arundinacea” simply means “resembling a reed” in Latin.