Not all reeds are the same. To be more precise, even ornamental grasses are called reeds, which are not reeds in the botanical sense. Here we shed a little light on the matter and introduce you to the most important and beautiful types of reeds.
What types of reeds are there?
There are different types of reeds that differ in size and appearance. These include the reed (Phragmites australis) with several subspecies, the miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) and the cattail (Typha) with different varieties.
The reeds as reeds and ornamental grass
The real reed or reed (Phragmites australis) is one of the ornamental grasses, more precisely the panicle grasses, and grows in wetlands and water bodies. It occurs worldwide and is therefore hardy here too. Further characteristics of the reed can be found in our profile.
The subspecies of the reed
| German name | Botanical name | Size | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Reed | Phragmites australis ssp. Australia | up to 4 meters | |
| Giant reed | Phragmites australis ssp. altissimus | up to 10 meters | |
| Dwarf reeds | Phragmites australis ssp. humilis | up to 1.2 meters | needs a root barrier despite its small stature |
| Reed 'Aurea' | Phragmites australis ‘Aurea’ | up to 2 meters | yellow-green leaves |
| Reed 'Variegatus' | Phragmites australis ‘Variegatus’ | up to 1.5 meters | yellow-brown leaves |
| Reed 'Pseudodonax' | Phragmites australis ‘Pseudodonax’ | up to 5 meters |
The Miscanthus
Miscanthus is particularly popular for garden planting. Miscanthus is also a sweet grass and looks quite similar to real reed. Unlike the reed, it is not native to us, but comes from Asia - as the name suggests. There are many different varieties of miscanthus that differ, among other things, in their flower color and even their leaf color.
Types of Miscanthus
| German name | Botanical name | Size | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| miscanthus | Miscanthus sinensis | approx. 2, 50m | beautiful autumn colors |
| Giant Miscanthus | Miscanthus × giganteus | up to 4 meters | grows fast, high and dense |
| Zebra grass, porcupine grass | Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ | approx. 1.75 meters | green-yellow stripes |
| Miscanthus 'Far East' | Miscanthus sinensis ‘Far East’ | approx. 1, 60m | turns reddish in autumn |
| Miscanthus 'Malepartus' | Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ | approx. 1.75m | turns golden to reddish brown in autumn |
The Cattail
The cattail is also often referred to as reed, but it differs visually from the other two with their panicle-like fronds, primarily due to the elongated bulb. The leaves, however, look very reed-like, which is probably why it is unofficially classified as a reed species. There are 16 to 25 species of cattail, the following are the five most important in our latitudes:
The most important varieties of cattail
| German name | Botanical name | Size | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattails, also lamp cleaners | Typha | up to 4 meters | |
| Narrow-leaved cattail | Typha angustifolia | approx. 2 meters | |
| Broad-leaved cattail | Typha latifolia | approx. 3 meters | |
| Laxmann's cattails | Typha laxmannii | approx. 2, 10 meters | short pistons |
| Dwarf cattails | Typha minima | approx. 1, 40 meters | almost circular pistons |
| Shuttleworth cattail, also called gray cattail | Typha shuttleworthii | approx. 2 meters | Bulb silver gray |