Giant Cane: America’s Native Bamboo That’s Making a Comeback
If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own bamboo grove but want to stick with native plants, let me introduce you to giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea). This remarkable native grass is North America’s largest bamboo species and the only bamboo native to the continental United States. While it may not be as well-known as its Asian cousins, giant cane has a fascinating history and offers unique benefits for the right garden situation.
What Exactly Is Giant Cane?
Giant cane is a perennial, grass-like plant that belongs to the same family as bamboo. Don’t let the grass-like description fool you though – this impressive native can reach heights of up to 25 feet! It grows in dense clumps called canebrakes, spreading through underground rhizomes to create natural screens and thickets.
The plant features dark green foliage with a medium texture and maintains its dense appearance year-round. In fall, it becomes particularly conspicuous as the leaves take on autumn colors before the plant goes dormant for winter.
Where Giant Cane Calls Home
Giant cane is native to a huge swath of the eastern and central United States, naturally occurring in 23 states from New York down to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. Historically, vast canebrakes covered millions of acres across the southeastern United States, but much of this habitat has been lost to development and agriculture.
Why You Might Want Giant Cane in Your Garden
There are several compelling reasons to consider giant cane for your landscape:
- Fast-growing privacy screen: With a rapid growth rate, giant cane quickly creates natural barriers and windbreaks
- Erosion control champion: The extensive rhizome system makes it excellent for stabilizing slopes and stream banks
- Low maintenance: Once established, it requires minimal care and has a long lifespan
- Native wildlife habitat: Provides cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals
- Wetland restoration: Perfect for rain gardens and riparian restoration projects
- Unique aesthetic: Offers a bamboo-like look with native plant benefits
Why You Might Think Twice
Giant cane isn’t right for every garden situation:
- Aggressive spreader: It spreads rapidly through rhizomes and can quickly take over large areas
- Size requirements: Best suited for large properties where it has room to spread
- Management needs: May require periodic cutting to control spread and maintain desired size
- Limited flower interest: Flowers are not conspicuous, and it doesn’t offer showy blooms
Perfect Garden Scenarios for Giant Cane
Giant cane thrives in several landscape situations:
- Large naturalistic gardens with ample space
- Rain gardens and bioswales
- Stream and pond edges
- Privacy screens on large properties
- Native plant restoration projects
- Erosion control on slopes
Growing Conditions and Care
Giant cane is surprisingly adaptable when it comes to growing conditions:
- Hardiness: Zones 6-10 (tolerates temperatures down to -23°F)
- Soil: Adapts to coarse, medium, and fine-textured soils
- pH: Prefers slightly acidic conditions (5.0-6.9)
- Moisture: Medium water needs; tolerates both wet and moderately dry conditions
- Sun exposure: Full sun (shade intolerant)
- Drainage: Medium tolerance for waterlogged conditions
As a facultative wetland plant, giant cane usually occurs in wetlands but can also thrive in upland sites with adequate moisture.
Planting and Establishment
Getting giant cane established in your landscape is relatively straightforward:
- Availability: Routinely available from native plant nurseries
- Planting options: Can be planted as bare root, container plants, or cuttings
- Timing: Plant in spring for best establishment
- Spacing: Allow 3,700-7,200 plants per acre depending on desired density
- Initial care: Water regularly during the first growing season
Long-term Management
Once established, giant cane is remarkably low-maintenance, but you’ll want to keep a few things in mind:
- Monitor spread and cut back rhizomes if needed to control expansion
- Consider periodic cutting every few years to rejuvenate growth
- Take advantage of its high fire tolerance for controlled burns in appropriate settings
- Enjoy rapid regrowth after cutting – it bounces back quickly
The Bottom Line
Giant cane is a fascinating native plant that offers a unique opportunity to grow America’s only native bamboo. It’s perfect for gardeners with large spaces who want fast-growing privacy screens, erosion control, or wetland restoration plantings. However, its aggressive spreading habit means it’s not suitable for small gardens or formal landscapes.
If you have the space and the right conditions, giant cane can be a valuable addition to your native plant palette. Just remember to give it room to roam and be prepared for its enthusiastic growth habit. After all, there’s a reason this remarkable grass once covered millions of acres across the American landscape!
