Phragmites australis

Phragmites australis, also known as common reed, is a semi-aquatic perennial plant found in wet environments. This tall grass has long ribbon-like leaves and blooms in large feathery spikes in summer and autumn. Ideal for heavy, moist, marshy soil, its elegance makes it an essential plant along water bodies where it adds verticality to aquatic scenes. It is also an excellent plant for dried bouquets.

Phragmites australis belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a cosmopolitan plant, meaning it is found in almost all regions of the world. It is one of the most widely distributed flowering plants on the planet, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. This rhizomatous and stoloniferous grass has a bushy upright habit that can easily reach 3m (10ft) in height, with a minimum spread of 1m (3ft), reaching maturity in 5 to 8 years. The slender and smooth stems are neither lignified nor branched, but have nodes. Its growth needs to be controlled as it can become invasive. The common reed has glaucous green, deciduous leaves measuring 20 to 50cm (8 to 20in) long by 2-3cm (1in) wide, slightly serrated along their edges. From July to September, long slender stems adorned with a silky, silvery plumes emerge, slightly inflexed. The inflorescence, initially purple and 20 to 50cm (8 to 20in) long, matures towards the end of summer and takes on a straw yellow colour before turning silver when withering. The common reed spreads through stolons and rhizomes to create reed beds.

Plant Phragmites in heavy, marshy, poorly oxygenated soil in autumn or spring. It tolerates acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils, and even salty soils. These plants require no specific maintenance, but the dry stems can be pruned in February. Phragmites australis thrives in nature along water courses, in marshes, and in ditches along roads. Reeds are grasses with particularly spreading rhizomes, making them very useful for stabilizing riverbanks in wetland areas such as basins. They provide remarkable natural shelter for small mammals and songbirds. These plants are also widely used in constructed wetlands for water purification, where they play a crucial role in removing heavy metals.

These plants were used for roofing and animal bedding. The roots were once consumed raw or cooked.