Reed is not just reed. Strictly speaking, even ornamental grasses are referred to as reeds, which do not belong to the reeds in the botanical sense. Here we shed some light on the matter and introduce you to the most important and most beautiful types of reed.
The reed is widespread worldwide and greens numerous ponds and lakes here too
The reed as reed and ornamental grass
The real reed or reed (Phragmites australis) belongs to the ornamental grasses, strictly speaking the panicle grasses and grows in wet areas and water bodies. It occurs worldwide and is therefore hardy here too. Further characteristics of the reed can be found in our profile.
The subspecies of the reed
| German name | botanical name | size | particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| common reed | Phragmites australis ssp. australis | up to 4 meters | |
| giant reed | Phragmites australis ssp. altissimo | up to 10 meters | |
| dwarf reed | Phragmites australis ssp. humilis | up to 1.2 meters | needs a root barrier despite its small stature |
| reed 'Aurea' | Phragmites australis 'Aurea' | up to 2 meters | yellow-green leaves |
| Reed 'Variegatus' | Phragmites australis 'Variegatus' | up to 1.5 meters | yellow-brown leaves |
| Reed 'Pseudodonax' | Phragmites australis 'Pseudodonax' | up to 5 meters |
The Chinese reed
Chinese reed is particularly popular for garden planting. The Chinese reed also belongs to the sweet grasses and looks quite similar to the real reed. Unlike the reed, however, it is not native to us, but comes from Asia - as the name suggests. There are many different Chinese reed varieties, which differ in their flower color and even their leaf color, among other things.
Chinese reed species
| German name | botanical name | size | particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese reed | Miscanthus sinensis | approx. 2.50m | beautiful fall color |
| Giant Chinese reed | Miscanthus x giganteus | up to 4 meters | grows fast, tall and dense |
| Zebra Grass, Porcupine Grass | Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus' | approx. 1.75 meters | green and yellow striped |
| Chinese reed 'Far East' | Miscanthus sinensis 'Far East' | approx. 1.60 m | turns reddish in autumn |
| Chinese reed 'Malepartus' | Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus' | approx. 1.75m | turns golden to reddish brown in autumn |
The cattail
Cattails are also often referred to as reeds, but they differ in appearance from the other two with their panicle-like fronds, primarily due to the elongated bulb. The leaves, however, look very reed-like, which is probably why it is unofficially counted among the reed species. There are 16 to 25 cattail species, the following are the five most important ones in our latitudes:
The Main Varieties of the Cattail
| German name | botanical name | size | particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattails, also lamp cleaners | typhoid | up to 4 meters | |
| Narrow-leaved cattail | Typha angustifolia | about 2 meters | |
| Broadleaf Cattail | Typha latifolia | about 3 meters | |
| Laxmann's cattails | Typha laxmannii | approx. 2.10 meters | short pistons |
| Dwarf Cattails | Typha minimal | approx. 1.40 meters | almost circular pistons |
| Shuttleworth cattail, also known as gray cattail | Typha shuttleworthii | about 2 meters | Cattail silver-grey |