Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Calamagrostis canadensis
Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) P. Beauv.
Bluejoint
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: CACA4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
This perennial, clump-forming grass grows to a height of 2-5 ft. Many slender stems arise from small rhizomes; each topped by a large, slightly nodding, branched inflorescence. The inflorescence is purplish when in flower, becoming tan later in the season. Blue-joint grass stands up well in winter.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall, occasionally to 6 feet.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: GreenBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Transcontinental Canada, s. to NC mts., KS, NM & CA
Native Habitat: Marshes; wet prairies & open woods
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils.
Conditions Comments: This species is the most frequent grass associate of sedges and is a valuable wetlands restoration species.
Propagation
Description: Propagate by seed or rhizome division.Seed Treatment: Seed requrie cold-moist stratification for 5 days before incubation with KNO3 and light.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | FAC | FACW | FACW | FACW | OBL | OBL | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:North American Native Plant Society - Etobicoke, ON
Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Calamagrostis canadensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Calamagrostis canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Calamagrostis canadensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-02Research By: TWC Staff