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Giant Bur-reed
Sparganium eurycarpum

A stout, persistent, perennial emergent herb that is up to 4.5' tall. Used in shorelines of streams, lakes, and ponds to provide erosion control. It also provides a wonderful wave buffer. It is used in wetland restorations where cattails would be. It provides good wildlife habitat.

USDA symbol: SPEU

General Information

Plant TypeForb
Height3 to 6 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun
Soil MoistureMedium, Wet
Bloom ColorWhite, Yellow
Giant Bur-reed (Giant Bur-reed<div><em class="small">Sparganium eurycarpum</em></div>)
Photo credit: Metro Blooms (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceVery High
General Resilience9
Salt ToleranceLow
Stress ToleranceGeneral Disturbance

Pollinator Value: None Known

Bloom MonthsJune to August

Project Planning

Project TypeErosion Control, Restoration, Shoreline Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism6
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadMedium
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands