This stuff grows everywhere here in Central Texas, Does it grow locally in anyone else’s area??? 
habit–Arundo donax is the largest grass in central Texas, growing up to 20 feet in height! This species is not native to North America–it is actually native to the Mediterranean region.
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/mbierner/bio406d/images/pics/poa/arundo_donax.htm
Ummmm… yup. 
Ever since pipemaker John Pederson showed me what it looks like in the wil, I’m seeing it more and more around Santa Cruz, but it all looks too young to be harvested for reeds. 
california, thinks it’s bad stuff to have around and they are trying to get rid of it.
I am not certain, but I believe they have stopped trying to get rid of it… something to do with errosion prevention.
the deal i read was it is fillin in their streams, and that is why they want it out. though maybe this is the only places they wish to rid themselves of it. ya know how the net is, only half the story/ 
i live in a zone 4 and have planted some. see how it goes. just have cover it well in the winter.
As long as the root isn’t subject to frost, it ought to be OK.
Arundo donax is almost indestructible, the root balls can go dormant, and if a bull dozer is used it just spreads them around whereupon the stalks grow again,from the redistributed root balls. Cutting the stalks off at ground level doesn’t do A THING! They’ll be back the next year! Herbicides are method of choice for most elimination programs,with the usual adverse effect on the environment. Less damaging is the grinding up the roots after being dug up. The roots are not very deep (think grass), hence their failure as erosion control plantings. The wine industry in California REALLY hates “Arundo”
after they suck up all the water in any water course nearby for their grapes, the donax that’s on the stream banks invades the bottom of the stream bed and goes after the little water that’s left. Hence “that damnable weed Arundo” as one article in the Santa Rosa Democrat quoted some WINE-ER as saying plus the phrase “It’s a NON- NATIVE!” well so are the damn GRAPES!
I looked up some map that had all the recorded sightings of Donax and the Illinois shore of the OHIO RIVER, near it’s confluence with the ole Missasip’, and I haven’t gone there yet to search it out and try to make a reed out of it.
I’ve been in Illinois now for the last 5 months, and boy I miss California! Sean Folsom
So Sean, do you know whether or not arundo is still being erradicated in California?
the grape root is native to north america, in fact most all the grapes grown have a north american root. the tops, now that is a different story.
They try, but as Sean pointed out, it just grows back and they have to do it again. I just hope I can find a nice isolated break where it’s been left alone long enough to be standing dead.
The erradication efforts stopped due to funding running out. If California ever sorts out its budget crisis (don’t hold your breath) they may start it up again.
On highly effective method of erradication is to build an Alzheimer’s treatment center on top of it… which is exactly what happened to possibly the best stand of cane in Southern California
No E
It’s true that the money ran out for getting rid of Donax by the Ca. State Government, however Volunteer groups (like the ones that work on the Russian River Restoration Project) are out there A-hackin and A-diggin, plus other private projects funded by the WHINE industry…(I myself, love the film Sideways as a satire on that whole subject) it was my understanding that most of the commercial grapes were European imports, if not I stand corrected. As I heard, the root stock went BACK to France to save the French wine industry there. Will it ultimately be the same for Arundo in Europe?
Blights will tell! Sean the Piper signs out!
