Phalaris arundinacea – Canary grass

Latin name: Phalaris arundinacea
Also know as: Canary grass, alpiste roseau, rohrglanzgras, kusa-yoshi, caniço-malhado, hierba cinta and pasto cinto.

Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass,  grows everywhere in the world, outside the polar regions. In Europe, Northern and Eastern Asia (partly in Central-), In North America from New Brunswick to the Southeastern parts of Alaska, from North Carolina to New Mexico, Arizona and Northeastern parts of California. Also in New Zealand. It is common.

Growing Phalaris is very easy – it is a grass that can tolerate floods and extreme drought. Starting from seeds is easy.

To grow Phalaris arundinacea, just barely cover the seeds or merely press them into moist soil.  Keep moist and at 41F/5C, if possible — the cooler, the better. The naturally germinates in early spring. Like all wild grasses, seeds germinates over a wide period in order to have more survivors, so not all the seeds germinate at once. Phalaris arundinacea does well in fertile soils and humid areas, but it does not like subtropical or tropical climates.

Alkaloid-contents vary considerably, alkaloids in Phalaris can be increased with stressing. Stressing, on the other hand, slows the growth and decreases the total yield.