"Growing Online"tm
"Growing Online"tm
|
|
|
|
Plant Guide
|
Summary |
|
|
Duration |
Perennial |
|
Growth Habit |
Subshrub, Shrub, Graminoid |
|
U.S. Nativity |
Native to U.S. |
|
Federal T/E Status |
|
|
National Wetland Indicator |
FACW |
|
|
|
|
Morphology/Physiology |
|
|
Active Growth Period |
Spring |
|
After Harvest Regrowth Rate |
Rapid |
|
Bloat |
None |
|
C:N Ratio |
High |
|
Coppice Potential |
No |
|
Fall Conspicuous |
Yes |
|
Fire Resistant |
No |
|
Flower Color |
|
|
Flower Conspicuous |
No |
|
Foliage Color |
Dark Green |
|
Foliage Porosity Summer |
Dense |
|
Foliage Porosity Winter |
Dense |
|
Foliage Texture |
Medium |
|
Fruit/Seed Color |
|
|
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous |
No |
|
Growth Form |
Rhizomatous |
|
Growth Rate |
Rapid |
|
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) |
|
|
Height, Mature (feet) |
25 |
|
Known Allelopath |
No |
|
Leaf Retention |
No |
|
Lifespan |
Long |
|
Low Growing Grass |
No |
|
Nitrogen Fixation |
|
|
Resprout Ability |
No |
|
Shape and Orientation |
Erect |
|
Toxicity |
None |
|
|
|
|
Growth Requirements |
|
|
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils |
Yes |
|
Anaerobic Tolerance |
Medium |
|
CaCO3 Tolerance |
Low |
|
Cold Stratification Required |
No |
|
Drought Tolerance |
Medium |
|
Fertility Requirement |
Medium |
|
Fire Tolerance |
High |
|
Frost Free Days, Minimum |
180 |
|
Hedge Tolerance |
High |
|
Moisture Use |
Medium |
|
pH, Minimum |
5 |
|
pH, Maximum |
6.9 |
|
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum |
3700 |
|
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum |
7200 |
|
Precipitation, Minimum |
24 |
|
Precipitation, Maximum |
100 |
|
Root Depth, Minimum (inches) |
18 |
|
Salinity Tolerance |
Low |
|
Shade Tolerance |
Intolerant |
|
Temperature, Minimum (°F) |
-23 |
|
|
|
|
Reproduction |
|
|
Bloom Period |
|
|
Commercial Availability |
Routinely Available |
|
Fruit/Seed Abundance |
|
|
Fruit/Seed Period Begin |
|
|
Fruit/Seed Period End |
|
|
Fruit/Seed Persistence |
No |
|
Propagated by Bare Root |
Yes |
|
Propagated by Bulb |
No |
|
Propagated by Container |
Yes |
|
Propagated by Corm |
No |
|
Propagated by Cuttings |
Yes |
|
Propagated by Seed |
No |
|
Propagated by Sod |
No |
|
Propagated by Sprigs |
No |
|
Propagated by Tubers |
No |
|
Seed per Pound |
0 |
|
Seed Spread Rate |
None |
|
Seedling Vigor |
|
|
Small Grain |
No |
|
Vegetative Spread Rate |
Rapid |
|
|
|
|
Suitability/Use |
|
|
Berry/Nut/Seed Product |
No |
|
Christmas Tree Product |
No |
|
Fodder Product |
Yes |
|
Fuelwood Product |
None |
|
Lumber Product |
No |
|
Naval Store Product |
No |
|
Nursery Stock Product |
Yes |
|
Palatable Browse Animal |
Medium |
|
Palatable Graze Animal |
Medium |
|
Palatable Human |
No |
|
Post Product |
No |
|
Protein Potential |
Low |
|
Pulpwood Product |
No |
|
Veneer Product |
No |
|
Kingdom Plantae -- Plants |
|
Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants |
|
Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants |
|
Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants |
|
Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons |
|
Subclass Commelinidae |
|
Order Cyperales |
|
Family Poaceae -- Grass family |
|
Genus Arundinaria Michx. -- cane P |
|
Species Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. -- giant cane P |
cane, switchcane
Giant cane provides high‑quality forage for cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. It is valued for summer grazing in northern part of range and for winter grazing in states along the gulf coast. Stems of this grass are also used for fishing poles, pipe stems, baskets, and mats.
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.
Giant cane is a native, warm‑season, robust, rhizomatous perennial grass. The height is between 4 and 20 feet. The leaf blade is 5 to 12 inches long, at least 1/2 inch wide, and tapers to a sharp point. Generally, it has groups of 3 to 5 blades at end of small branches and a short petiole between the blade and sheath. The leaf sheath is rounded and overlapping. The ligule is a row of short hair. The stem is hollow, woody. The seedhead is an open panicle with 8 to 12 spikelets per seedhead.
Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.
Overgrazing and uncontrolled burning easily kills this grass. For maximum production, no more than 50 percent of current year's growth by weight should be grazed off at any season. Controlled burning should be done under ideal humidity, soil moisture, and wind conditions no more than every 3 to 4 years. Deferred grazing for at least 90 days during summer every 2 to 3 years improves plant vigor. Overgrazed stands require complete protection from grazing and fire during the growing season to allow plants to regain vigor.
Establishment
Giant cane produces green leaves and stems all year. It grows vigorously from rhizomes and from auxiliary buds at basal nodes. It also grows in small colonies, thickets, and large canebrakes as well as makes vigorous growth under a dense stand of trees. It is adapted to moist soils along riverbanks and in bottomlands and similar sites. It does best on soils of high fertility.
Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.
Reference
Leithead, H.L., L.L. Yarlett, & T.N. Shiflett. 1976. 100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states. USDA SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 389, Washington, DC.
Percy Magee
USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Edited: 13may02 ahv; jul03 ahv; 20sep05 jsp
Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Back to NurseryTree.com Home Page
OTHER RESOURCES
Lists of Nurseries Around the Country
Washington State Business, Government, etc. Listings
User Agreement Add Your Business About Us Site Map
(c) 2007 NurseryTrees.com, LLC
