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Stout woodreed

Cinna arundinacea

Last reviewed: September 2026

Stout woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) is a perennial grass native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 more states. It blooms in August and September.

Stout woodreed (Cinna arundinacea)
Photo: (c) Bonnie Semmling, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Stout woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

high

Size

36"–60" H × 18"–24" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great PlainsGreat PlainsSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainSouthern Coastal PlainAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Tall, clump-forming grass with broad leaves and airy, nodding seed heads in late summer. Found in moist bottomland woods and along streams.

Growing Stout woodreed

Grow Stout woodreed in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 60 inches tall and spread 18 to 24 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Seeds provide food for songbirds; dense clumps offer cover in wet woodland habitats.

Common questions

How much sun does Stout woodreed need?
Stout woodreed grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Stout woodreed bloom?
Stout woodreed blooms in August and September.
Where is Stout woodreed native?
Stout woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Stout woodreed? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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