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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Arundinaria gigantea

Giant Cane, River Cane, Switchcane

Scientific Name:

Arundinaria gigantea

Genus:

Arundinaria

Species Epithet:

gigantea

Common Name:

Giant Cane, River Cane, Switchcane

Plant Type

Grass/Sedge/Rush

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

6-12 ft., 12-36 ft.

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist, Wet

Bloom Time:

April, May, June, July

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont

Habitat Description:

Swamps and floodplains. Common in NC mountains, uncommon in piedmont, according to Weakley (2015). USDA PLANTS shows it in the NC sandhills and coastal plain as well.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Evergreen

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Important for Wildlife

Landscape Value:

Not Recommended for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Flowers rarely, supposedly only every 40 to 50 years. Can form large stands ("canebrakes"). Highly flammable.

Along a riverbank in the North Carolina mountains

The Scientific Name is Arundinaria gigantea. You will likely hear them called Giant Cane, River Cane, Switchcane. This picture shows the  of Arundinaria gigantea

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record

NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/arundinaria-gigantea/

Vascular Plants of NC: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php

700 Bird-friendly Plants for NC: https://nc.audubon.org/700



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