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Great Lakes Gardening

what is the name of that grass?????

18 years ago

it grows along the roads and highways in MI. usually in ditches and has the plooms of fuzz at the top and is 6-10 feet tall.

looks almost like pampas grass

where can i get some starter plants or seeds short of digging one out of a ditch?

or, what other tall grasses will grow here in MI? pampas grass is zone 7

Comments (6)

cody_mi
18 years ago
arundo donax?
treemedic
18 years ago
Most likely Common Reed Grass. Here's a link with info

Here is a link that might be useful: Reed Grass
jroot
18 years ago
VERY agressive. Think twice before planting.
magda
18 years ago
VERY, VERY aggressive. Gets through cracks in the asphalt here in Ontario- Zone 5. Can't imagine in Zone 7!
achnatherum
18 years ago
By you description ~ definitely Phragmites australis AND definitely not something that you would want to put in your garden. I have seen its roots run 5 feet in one jump!

Other tall grasses that would grow in Michigan ~ hmmmm, depends on what part of Michigan ~ you don't say what zone you're gardening in. A number of Miscanthus sinensis cultivars 'should' work for you as well as the taller Miscanthus floridulus. As for where to buy .. one of your local nurseries should have at least a small selection. If you are in the SW there is a very good grass nursery near Benton Harbor (Amber Waves).
These two links might be of some help
Landscape Grasses
http://www.sustland.umn.edu/maint/grass.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Ornamental grasses for Minnesota
diggerb2
17 years ago
Ravenna grass. erianthus ravennae( but check my spelling)

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