Phragmites australis (common reed)

Phragmites australis

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Phragmites australis (common reed)

Global genetic issues make it unclear which strains may be non-native in California. Non-native strains on the East Coast are major invasives there. Phragmites is sometimes problematic in California, but it is unclear whether it was historically present in all regions of California. Listing inconclusive.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: See information above.

Cal-IPC Resources on Phragmites australis

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Phragmites australis.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Phragmites australis.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Stack, L. B. (2009). Chasing weeds from Maine to California. Cal-IPC News. 16: 10,12.
• Kelly, M. (2000). Education: Wildland weed tours and talks. CalEPPC News. 8: 3-4.
• Stein, E. D. and V. Vartanian (1997). Killing the beast: A cooperative approach for control of Arundo donax

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Tamagawa, Y. and A. M. Lambert (2007). Effects of non-native aphids (Hyalopterus pruni) on competition between native and non-native Phragmites australis. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2007. San Diego, CA, California Invasive Plant Council.
• DiTomaso, J. M. (2005). Efficacy and safety of new herbicides on the horizon. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Gedik, T. L. (2005). Phragmites australis in the Humboldt Bay region: Biology of an invasive species and opportunities for treatment. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Jackson, N. E. (1996). Control of exotic weeds with Roundup herbicide: A survey of projects around the world. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium. San Diego, CA.

Other Resources on Phragmites australis

• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

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