Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Glyceria maxima
Plant Common Name
Manna Grass, Reed Sweetgrass
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
The vigorous, densely foliage, spreading reed sweetgrass adds 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 deepening to a deep green and 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. Growing in shallow water to the wet soils at the edges of ponds, the stems can provide cover for a variety of fish, insects, and amphibians in its native lands, but has done the opposite in regions were it is introduced and taken over ecosystems.
Reed sweetgrass thrives 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. The decorative cultivar 'Variegata' is the only form appropriate for monitored growth by gardeners as it boasts bright variegated foliage colored white, creamy pale yellow, and dark green.
Reed sweetgrass 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.
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
-
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)
Dark Green, Pink
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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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
No
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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
