Bluejoint Reedgrass

Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) P. Beauv.
Bluejoint is a robust, hardy, tall, tufted, perennial grass native to boreal forests. It gets its name from the purplish-blue nodes on its stems, and is also referred to as Canada bluejoint grass, reedgrass, marsh reedgrass, and Scribner’s reedgrass. It provides good spring forage for livestock and native ungulates. When harvested as livestock feed from wet meadows that contain significant amounts of bluejoint reedgrass, it is referred to as “beaver grass.”
The root system is fibrous and rapidly forms extensive creeping rhizomes. It can form extensive swards that can become competitive and problematic in some situations, inhibiting natural regeneration of tree seedlings.
Bluejoint stems can grow up to 200 cm (79 in.) tall. The panicle is up to 25 cm (10 in.) long and is often nodding or dropping. Numerous leaf blades alternate up the stem and grow up to 40 cm (16 in.) long. Leaf blades are flat and taper to a sharp tip. Seed heads form on loose, somewhat drooping, purple-tinged panicles with numerous spikelets. Flowering occurs June to August, and seeds are set mid-August to late September.