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Phalaris arundinacea
  • Canary Grass

a perennial member of the Phalaris genus in the family Gramineae.

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Phalaris arundinacea has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Phalaris arundinacea.

Material uses

Plants have a running root system and form an impenetrable ground cover. They should be mown 2 - 3 times in their first 2 - 3 years in order to encourage thick growth[1]. Plants are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[2].

The leaves have been woven into hats and mats[3]. his is one of the main species used in the reed bed system for the water purification treatment of grey water and for irrigation with pollution control sewage effluent from municipal and industrial sources[4].

One of the highest yielding fodder grasses with annual yields ranging from 8 - 20 tonnes per hectare, it has potential as a source of biomass[4].

Unknown part

Weaving
Pollution
Biomass

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Phalaris arundinacea.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[1]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Phalaris arundinacea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easy plant to grow, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil[5], though it grows best on moist sandy soils, rich in organic matter[4]. It also does well on fertile loams and clays[4]. Succeeds in most soils, whether dry or wet[1] and is moderately tolerant of drought[4]. It does not like saline soils[4]. The plant is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 30 to 260cm, an annual temperature in the range of of 5 to 23°C and a pH of 4.5 to 8.2[4]. Plants can be very invasive, especially in moist conditions, there dense growth provides good cover for water fowl[1].

Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[5][1]. This is one of the first grasses to come into growth in the spring[4].

There are many named forms, selected mainly for their ornamental value[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Phalaris arundinacea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Phalaris arundinacea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Phalaris arundinacea
Genus
Phalaris
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1][2][3][4]
Botanic
[6]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    1.5 x 3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.8 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    6. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Phalaris arundinacea 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Phalaris arundinacea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyGramineae +
    Belongs to genusPhalaris +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has common nameCanary Grass +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imagePhalaris arundinacea 2.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useWeaving +, Pollution + and Biomass +
    Has mature height1.5 +
    Has mature width3 +
    Has primary imagePhalaris arundinacea 2.jpg +
    Has search namephalaris arundinacea + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy namePhalaris arundinacea +
    Has water requirementshigh +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +