Chee Reedgrass: What You Need to Know About This Mysterious Grass
If you’ve stumbled across the name chee reedgrass in your gardening research, you’re not alone in wondering what exactly this plant is all about. Chee reedgrass (Calamagrostis epigeios glomerata) is one of those plants that seems to fly under the radar, with surprisingly little information readily available to home gardeners.
The Basics: What Is Chee Reedgrass?
Chee reedgrass is a perennial grass that belongs to the larger family of grasses and grass-like plants. You might also see it listed under its scientific synonyms, including Calamagrostis arenicola Fernald, though botanists seem to have had their fair share of back-and-forth about what to call this particular plant.
Here’s what we do know for certain: this grass is not native to North America. It’s what botanists call an introduced species, meaning it arrived here from somewhere else and has managed to establish itself in the wild without human help.
Where You’ll Find It Growing
Currently, chee reedgrass has been documented growing in just three states: Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. It’s quite possible it exists in other locations, but these are the confirmed spots where it’s been identified and recorded.
- Species observed
- No observations
Should You Plant Chee Reedgrass?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. Since this is a non-native plant with limited available information about its behavior in gardens and landscapes, it’s hard to give a definitive thumbs up or thumbs down. We simply don’t have enough data about:
- How aggressively it spreads
- What kind of growing conditions it prefers
- How tall it gets or how much space it needs
- Whether it provides benefits to local wildlife
- Its potential impact on native plant communities
Better Safe Than Sorry: Native Alternatives
Given the uncertainty around chee reedgrass, you might want to consider some well-known native grass alternatives that can provide similar ornamental value without the question marks. Some great options include:
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – a beautiful native bunch grass
- Buffalo grass (Poaceae family natives) – depending on your region
- Native sedges (Carex species) – for a grass-like appearance with proven wildlife benefits
The Bottom Line
Chee reedgrass remains something of an enigma in the gardening world. While it’s not currently flagged as invasive or noxious, the lack of available growing information makes it a bit of a wild card for home gardeners. If you’re set on trying something new and unusual, you might be better off exploring the many fantastic native grasses that are well-documented, easier to source, and guaranteed to support local ecosystems.
Sometimes the most interesting plants are the ones that keep a little mystery about them – but when it comes to your garden, you probably want something with a bit more of a track record!