Jesse Saylor
Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Glyceria maxima 'Variegata'
Plant Common Name
Manna Grass, Reed Sweetgrass, Variegated Manna Grass
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
The vigorous, densely foliaged, spreading variegated reed sweet grass adds a soft, weeping foliage to shallow edges and waters of lakes, ponds and streambanks. A perennial aquatic that spreads by rhizomes (underground stems), it is native to a large area of temperate Europe and Asia, from Great Britain eastward to Japan. The leaves are strap-like and first emerge pink before maturing to a striped display of white, cream and deep green. The leaf blades bend gracefully over as they lengthen. In mid and late summer, small spikelets of purple-green flowers form on slender stems in the dense clump of foliage. However, the variegated foliage is the key feature for use in an aquatic garden.
Grow variegated reed sweet grass in a very wet soil, either completely submerged in freshwater, or in saturated, mucky soil on land. This aquatic grass will spread indefinitely, thickly vegetating an aquatic ecosystem.
Manna grass has proven very problematic with its fast growth and invasiveness in both North America and Australia. Do not introduce this plant to any natural body of water, and certainly restrict the variegated form in a container to ensure it can be managed in a small, man-made water feature.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 3
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
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Plant Type
Aquatics
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
24"-32" / 61.0cm - 81.3cm
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Width
24"-100" / 61.0cm - 254.0cm
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
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Native To
Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Central Asia, Western Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Very Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water, Ample Water
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Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Green, Purple
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Fruit Color
Tan, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
White, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
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Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier
Variegated, Striped/Striated
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Foliage Color (Summer)
White, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
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Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier
Variegated
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Foliage Color (Fall)
White, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Variegated, Striped/Striated
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Yes
