Arundinaria Gigantean (Giant Cane)



Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009

by Dennis Sons
tn nursery

Arundinaria , universally acknowledged as canes , is the only species of bamboo native to the Americas . The word is derived from Latin arundo meaning " reed ". The cane species is prevalent in the Eastern States from New Jersey all the way to the SE states, West to the prairies and South to Texas .

Within these areas, the landscape changes from the coastal plains of the Atlantic to high mountain ranges of the Appalachian Mountains . Arundinaria has now established itself as part of American heartland growing to heights of 2-6 meters. Arundinaria is often mistaken for a non-native bamboo . Switch canes hardly ever flower.

The trees rarely produce seeds but reproduce via vegetation. Once seeds are produced, the plant usually expires. One unique feature of canes is the fan-like collection of leaves often called topknot. Once Arundinaria were epidemic along the rivers and low-lying wet lands, but deforestation, agriculture and fire have led to a decline in the growth of this plant.

Arundinaria gigantean is a natural woody perennial plant that commonly grows in moist and damp soil. The woody grass can grow anywhere from 3-6 meters and in some cases even taller than 8 meters. The tree has adapted to wet swampy soil and even grows well in areas where drainage is poor. In years past, the native Indians often used to hide and hunt in the cane breaks. Because of its height, Arundinaria gigantean is often used to form broad strands known as cane breaks to help contain wildlife or grazing animals.

Arundinaria gigantean has a great tolerance for varying environmental and soil conditions. They trees usually grow at sea level but can also be found high in the Appalachian ranges. The tree is often found to thrive in all types of soil including sandy, stony cliffs, mountain slopes, around peat moss and rich mineral soil. Further, the tree can withstand extremes of temperature ranging from minus 15 degree to 100 degree Fahrenheit.

The biggest advantage of growing Arundinaria is that it easily grows in moist soil. The tall plant is frequently used to stream line riverbanks and acts as a fence to hold in wild life or animals.

There are several related species to the giant cane, but the Arundinaria gigantean grows the tallest. The Arundinaria tecta are slightly smaller and A. appalachiana is the shortest. The latter tends to grow in drier parts of the country. All three species when grown close to each other develop dense strands known as canebrakes, which are then use to form a barrier.

Even though there are reports that A. gigantean can grow to 30 feet in height, on average most trees grow between 15-20 feet.

Growth requirements A gigantean thrives in the presence of full sun but can also grow in partial shade. The soil must be wet or moist and adequately drained. In wetlands, A. gigantean can grow wild. The foliage of the tree is green all summer long. The dense foliage often attracts butterflies and birds that do nest in-between the leaves.

Gardeners and landscapers like to grow A. gigantean for several reasons including: - allows for stream and river bank control - controls soil erosion - dense foliage acts like a fence - bulk planting can be done - requires little maintenance
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