Giant reed
Arundo donax
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Photo credit: Harry Rose (Macleay Grass Man)/via Flickr
Arundo donax - Giant reed
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How could it get here?
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
Arundo donax - Giant reed
Habitat:
- Freshwater to semi-saline streams rivers and brackish waters
Description:
- Tall and straight like bamboo up to 20ft in height
- Leaves are 1ft long
- Produces dense clumps of flowers
- Seeds are wind dispersed but vegetative reproduction is the main way it spreads
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to northern Africa and Asia
- Now spread to southern Africa, north America, the Caribbean, Central America, south America, northern Europe and the pacific islands
- Limited by cold temperatures
Impacts:
- Fast growing and outcompete native plants
- Can increase water temperature due to reduced shade
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- Not currently in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
- Could arrive accidentally through boats or planes with other plants and goods
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread
- Promote native species and biodiversity - use alternative, native plants
- Know what you are buying/growing and source native Irish seed and plants
- Do not swap plants and cuttings
- Clean plants before adding to ponds (dispose of water away from water courses)
- Follow control advice and watch out for hitchhikers - inspect new imported purchases for invasive pest and pathogens
- Clean equipment before moving between waterbodies
- Never collect plants from the wild
- Safe disposal of plant material and growing media
- Record all sightings.
Current Legislation Position (Northern Ireland only):
- Arundo donax is listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and as such, under Article 15 it is an offence to plant or otherwise cause this species to grow in the wild.