Tall, perennial grass, also called River Cane, with alternate, lance-shaped, evergreen leaves and woody, green, segmented stems.
River banks, damp woods and bogs.
Only bamboo native to the U.S. found in dense thickets (canebrakes). Used for making fishing poles, baskets, mats and was a valuable building material for southern Native American tribes. Young shoots edible, seeds used as flour, and root extract used for kidney ailments. Host to the Southern Pearly-eye Butterfly.
Leaf length: 3.00-12.00 inches
Tree height: 3.00-30.00 feet
Where to find Giant Cane on the Louisiana State Arboretum Trails:
TER - Walker Terrace 20.0
WAB - Walker Branch Trail 3.0
Refer to our Live Map to locate this species and its interpretative signage on the trail system.