Hardy Sugar Cane (Saccharum arundinaceum): Tall Ornamental Grass for Temperate Gardens

Overview

Hardy Sugar Cane (also called Hardy Sugar Cane Grass) is a robust, perennial grass native to the Himalayas. It forms large, bamboo-like clumps of thick, arching canes 8-12 feet tall with broad, corn-like leaves. In fall, it produces large, silvery-pink plumes. It is a cold-hardy relative of true sugar cane.

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

Cultivation & Uses

Full sun; moist, fertile soil. Hardy to USDA zone 5 (-20°F) with mulch. Dies back in winter in cold zones; cut to ground in spring. Use as a bold specimen, screen, or in the back of borders. The canes can be chewed for sweet juice (less sweet than true sugar cane). Impressive architectural grass.