Purple Small-Reed is a long-lived perennial grass that is native to Europe and Western Siberia. It is loosely clump forming and found in large swaths in salt marshes and wet habitats and can spread quickly by its shallow rhizomes. It is not commonly found in North or South America. The grass prefers full sun in amended medium to wet well-drained soils. It will grow 3 to 5 feet tall and spread 2 to 3 feet. A slender stem with no lateral branches holds a large, slightly nodding branched inflorescence, which has many tiny hairs that look like an eyelash. This inflorescence turns purple when in flower, giving the grass its common name. The inflorescence turns tan later in the season. The leaf blades are flat with entire margins and hold their shape well in winter. The grass can be used along bogs, steams or ponds and to help prevent erosion.. See native grass options to the left Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch for aphids, spider mites, mealbugs and grubs. Diseases- watch for rust, leaf spot and crown rot.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The flat, slender leaves have small hairs that create a rough texture. The 2 to 7 inch long leaves are a 1/4 inch wide and narrow to a point at its apex. At the base where the leaf and stem meet, there may appear a hair-like membrane (ligule).
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
The 2 to 7 inch flower is an open oblong shaped panicle, which is purple in late summer and turns tan as the season progresses.