Poaceae
small cane
Arundinaria tecta
Synonyms
Arundinaria gigantea ssp. tecta
Other Common Names
switch cane, mutton grass
Plant Type
Grass/Grass-like
Life Cycle
Perennial
Typical Size
2-6 ft. tall
Tolerant of
Occasional Flooding
Inolerant of
Dry Soil
Propagation
By division
Plant Planting Notes
Use in areas where this colonizing plant has room to spread freely.
Plants/Diseases
No significant pest or disease issues.
Wildlife Benefits
Host plant for butterfly larvae, Fruit/seeds for birds
Leaves
Simple alternate lanceolate leaves with entire margins.
Flowers
Green flowers on panicles.
Fruit
Caryopsis.
Toxicity
No known toxicity.
USDA Hardiness Zones
6, 7, 8, 9
Light Exposure
Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade, Full Shade
Soil Moisture
Moist
Soil Drainage
Well-drained, Poorly Drained
Native in South Carolina?
Yes
Plant Native Habitat
Pine savannas, pocosins, canebrakes, blackwater swamps, seeps, and wetlands.
Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)
Secure (G5)
Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)
Not Listed
Distribution Notes
Common in the coastal plain and piedmont. Absent from the mountains.