Reed is a very common bank plant in Germany and Central Europe. But which plant family does it belong to? How tall will she get? Which location does she prefer? Here you will find all important information at a glance in profile format.
There are reeds almost everywhere in the world
Key facts at a glance
- Scientific name: Phragmites australis (phragma (Latin: wall)
- Other names: reed, reed, pond reed, common pond reed, reed
- Plant family: Sweet grasses (Poacea)
- Distribution: From 66°N latitude to 23°S latitude (almost everywhere except the tropics and Iceland), growing to 1600 meters above sea level
- Growth form: Ornamental grass with elongated, sharp-edged leaves
- growth height: up to 4 meters; Phragmites australis ssp. altissimus up to 10 meters high
- usual locations: grows on the banks of still and slow-flowing waters, on wet meadows
- Location in the garden: sunny to semi-shady, moist
- Flowering period: July to September
- Flower color: depending on the variety, white, silver, pink or red
- Flower shape: dense panicles up to 40cm long
- Lifespan: Roots up to 20 years, new shoots every year
- Use: Widespread natural building material, e.g. as cover material for roofs, insulating material and privacy mats; can also be eaten; for wastewater treatment
- Propagation: via seeds (rarely) or root suckers; in the garden via division or cuttings
- Hardiness: hardy to at least -20 degrees
reeds in the garden
In the garden, reed is often planted as an easy-care ornamental grass, as a bank planting or as a privacy screen. It requires few nutrients and grows very quickly and densely, making it the ideal natural privacy screen. However, a root barrier should definitely be installed when planting, because reed grows very profusely and can develop roots up to 2 meters deep. Removing reeds is extremely difficult.
Economic use of reeds
Due to its rapid growth, reed is a cheap raw material. It is used in thatched roof construction and is also used in the construction of clay houses. It has good insulating properties and is therefore used as an ecological insulating material. Reed mats are often used as a privacy screen, in some countries as a floor covering or as sun protection.
The purifying effect of reed
Wastewater treatment is an important area of application both in the private and in the commercial sector. Reed has a strong water-purifying effect, as it absorbs nitrogen and other substances and releases a lot of oxygen. This is used both in private garden ponds and in sewage treatment plants.