harding grass

It is an erect, waist-high, stout perennial bunch grass, with grayish to bluish green leaves. Flowering heads are dense, spike-like, and usually 2 to 5 inches (50 to 125 mm) long. It is slow to develop from seed, but can form large bunches after several years. Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) differs from Harding grass in having more distinct rhizomes, and an inflorescence that is compact at first but becomes more open as the branches spread. Interspecific hybrids between Phalaris aquatica and Phalaris arundinacea have been produced through plant breeding programs to combine agronomic traits from both species. P. aquatica is a quick-growing grass which incorporates and utilises soil nitrogen rapidly.

Phalaris aquatica is commercial propagated as a cultivated pasture plant and can provide high-quality fodder for 8 to 12 months of the year. It has been widely adopted in pasture management due to its fast growth rate and high nutritional value. Breeding and selection programs in Argentina, several states of the USA, New Zealand, Israel, Tunisia, and Greece also produced cultivars such as Sirocco, Sirolan, Holdfast and Landmaster with specific adaptations to address agronomic challenges such as toxicity, seed shattering, and acid soil tolerance.