Description of Glyceria maxima (Reed Sweet Grass)

Glyceria maxima is reed sweet-grass, a native marginal that builds big clumps fast. It’s useful when you want height, movement, and a natural pond-edge look.

Appearance

It makes long arching leaves and tall flowering stems in summer. In good wet soil it can reach 1 to 2m, with a wide footprint. The flower heads are loose and grassy rather than showy.

Care Guide

It likes open light and lots of water.

• Sun: Full sun to light shade.
• Soil: Wet soil, heavy clay, or aquatic compost.
• Water: Saturated soil to shallow margins.
• Control: Lift and divide to stop it taking over. A basket helps in liner bogs.
• Cut back: Cut old growth down in late winter.

If you want a cleaner edge, keep one clump and remove runners each spring.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This suits large bog gardens and wildlife ponds where you can give it space. In small beds it can smother slower plants, so use a container or choose a smaller sedge instead.

It works well as a wind-break behind flowering marginals.

FAQ