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National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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  4. Common Reed

Common Reed

Scientific Name

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (ITIS)

Common Name

Common reed

Native To

Native to the U.S., but the more invasive strains originated in Europe (Tulbure et al. 2007)

Date of U.S. Introduction

Invasive European strains probably introduced during the 1800s (Saltonstall 2002)

Means of Introduction

Possibly through ships' ballast (Saltonstall 2002)

Impact

Crowds out native species (Tewksbury et al. 2002)

Common reed

Common reed, flowers

Credit

Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff; University of Connecticut

Source
Invasive.org.

Find more images

Spotlights

  • What Makes This Invasive, Non-Native Reed Grass Thrive in the Wetlands?

    • Apr 6, 2022

    • Louisiana State University.

    • The Mississippi River Delta is home to the world’s largest contiguous swath of Phragmites australis, or more commonly known as the common reed. But the plant that can grow to nearly 20 ft. and has been a critical component in stabilizing the state’s coastal erosion is not actually native to Louisiana—well, not entirely. There are multiple P. australis genotypes. P. australis subspecies (ssp.) americanus is the native subspecies in the U.S. and Canada. However, Phragmites australis ssp. australis originated in central Europe and was subsequently introduced to the U.S. where it is now considered to be one of the most problematic invasive species in North America. In a newly published study in Molecular Ecology and recently featured in an edition of The Scientist, LSU researchers collaborated with Tulane University and the U.S. Geological Survey to study the genomic bases of P. australis and to investigate what exactly makes the invasive reed grass subspecies thrive in wetlands, in comparison to its native counterpart.

  • Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative

    • Great Lakes Commission.

    • The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative is a network of agencies, organizations and citizens who are engaged in Phragmites in some way, including management, research and communication. The Collaborative was established to facilitate communication among stakeholders across the region and serve as a resource center for information on Phragmites biology, management, and research.

      See also: Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF) Strategic Plan (2020-2026). This strategic plan will guide successful implementation of PAMF by setting program-specific goals, objectives, and measures for the next five years. The PAMF core science team that developed the plan includes representatives from the Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, and University of Georgia.

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Videos

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Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.

Council or Task Force
Partnership
Federal Government
State and Local Government
Academic
Citations