In the US and Canada we tend to associate bamboo with East Asia. There’s a good reason for this; bamboo species grow widely there and have been used by numerous cultures in a variety of ways for millennia. It’s easy to forget, however, that the Americas have their own bamboo species, one of which shaped the history and ecology of eastern North America. Arundinaria gigantea, more commonly known as river cane, once covered vast swaths of the eastern US. Now, these stands of river cane, called canebrakes, are an endangered ecosystem. The story of river cane is a story about how humans interact with plants and with the environment as a whole, and there’s a lot we can learn from it. Let’s dig in!
The Botany and Ecology of Arundinaria gigantea
It’s easy to see why some folks refer to river cane as “America’s bamboo”. Arundinaria gigantea bears a strong resemblance to its Asian cousin. Like bamboo, river cane grows in large stands called canebrakes, which at one time covered thousands and thousands of acres of land in river bottoms and wetlands across what is now the eastern US. Also like bamboo, it propagates primarily by spreading underground via a network of large rhizomes; flowering and seed production are irregular at best.
The resemblance to bamboo continues as the plant grows. Arundinaria gigantea is a large grass, with thick-walled, segmented stems. The stems and leaves look so much like non-native ornamental bamboos that they’re often confused for each other within river cane’s native range. As a native plant, however, river cane provides a home for dozens of bird and insect species, some of which live nowhere else.
Vanishing Canebrakes
Humans and river cane have a long history together. The native peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands made regular use of Arundinaria gigantea to make everything from floor mats to baskets and other containers to housing. The Cherokee made their famous blow guns out of long sections of rivercane among other uses. Many groups, including the Choctaw and Cherokee, made elaborate, ornate baskets out of river cane. These works of art are still being made by traditional crafters, although the technique was very nearly lost in the early 20th century.
The loss of river cane crafting techniques stemmed from a loss of the cane and canebrakes that supported them. River cane likes to grow in rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Canebrakes formed around fertile river bottom land—the exact land that European settlers wanted for farms. Beginning in the 17th century and continuing well into the 20th, these settlers and their descendants cleared most of the existing canebrakes and prevented new ones from establishing. An ecosystem that had once covered thousands of square miles nearly vanished.
Today, conservation efforts are in place to maintain and expand canebrakes and the dozens of species that Arundinaria gigantea supports. Scientists have found that canebrakes actually support agriculture by maintaining healthy rivers; their dense roots and rhizomes help prevent runoff and erosion while also absorbing some pollutants before they can enter the water system. A plant that colonists once regarded as an obstacle has become a useful partner in maintaining soil and water health. This is a lesson we all can learn about working with plants and nature rather than against them.
Growing Arundinaria gigantea at Home
We were curious too: can we grow Arundinaria gigantea in our home gardens? The answer is . . . yes, with caveats. River cane is a wetlands plant, so it requires fairly wet but well-drained and nutrient rich soil. This plant is almost always grown from rhizomes—remember, it rarely produces seeds—and these are best transplanted between late fall and early spring. The soil must be kept wet but not waterlogged as they establish themselves, otherwise the plant just won’t survive. River cane needs at least four hours of direct sunlight each day in order to thrive. A light annual application of balanced fertilizer or compost is enough to keep river cane happy.
Like other bamboos, river cane will spread throughout any supportive space, so pick your location carefully. This might not be the best plant for small yards or limited landscaping spaces. If you do have the space for it and the soil conditions are right, you’ll be rewarded with a strikingly handsome stand of cane that provides both vertical interest and a useful plant.
River cane rhizomes and plants can be tricky to find, so we recommend asking around a bit before resorting to an online nursery. The plant’s rhizomes do ship well, but it’s a lot easier if you can find someone near you that has it. River cane is hardy through zone 6, so you may well have a local nursery, gardener, or botanical garden that can help you out.
Celebrating “America’s Bamboo”
River cane is a fascinating plant with a long history that humans have shaped in ways both good and bad. There’s a lot to be learned from Arundinaria gigantea and the ecosystems it creates, and even more to be learned by how we’ve interacted with them over the centuries. By supporting conservation efforts for river cane and canebrakes and spreading the word about the important roles they play, we can help America’s bamboo reestablish itself and rejuvenate our waterways and soil.
If you’re growing river cane or you have a canebrake near you, we’d love to see photos so please share them. Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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