Phragmites australis (frag-MY-teez), also known as common reed, is a member of the grass family. It grows in dense monotypic stands and can reach 15 feet in height. While phragmites is native to Michigan, an invasive non-native variety of phragmites is becoming widespread and has the ability to dominate ecosystems ranging from uplands to wetlands, including the Great Lakes coastal shorelines.

The rapid expansion of this invasive plant is displacing the native variety of the same species, as well as many other native species, thus reducing both plant and animal diversity in the process.

The goal of the guide is to provide information about effective methods to control and manage phragmites. This guide presents a compilation of techniques, based on four years of research and more than ten years of land managers' on-the-ground experience, to control the nonnative variety of phragmites. A Guide to the Control and Management of Invasive Phragmites explains that phragmites can be controlled using a multi-year integrated approach. This includes an initial herbicide treatment followed by one or more follow-up methods such as prescribed fire, mechanical treatment, and water level management.

Whether the goals are to restore native plant communities and wildlife habitat or improve a lakeside view and recreational opportunities, the charge is the same, to control phragmites in coastal and interior wetlands of Michigan.

For more information, go to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Control and Management of Invasive Phragmites web page.