Propagating River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) for Stream Restoration
Delaney Nelson
Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)
Brentwood, TN
Brandy Manka Hayes
Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)
Chattanooga, TN
Authors: Delaney Nelson, Brandy Manka Hayes, Carley Carder
River Cane (or Giant Cane) is a native bamboo in the family Poaceae that is mainly spread through rhizomes underground. It grows best on well-draining, fertile soil in the floodplains of low energy rivers and lakes and is known for being a bank stabilizer. It can flower but does so rarely and only under very specific conditions, which has historically made propagation of the plant difficult. Canebrakes, large expanses of dense cane forest, are a threated ecosystem that only comprises less than 2% of the historical range.
Many invertebrate and mammal species rely on canebrakes for habitat and nesting grounds, including the canebrake rattlesnake, swamp rabbit, and Swaison’s warbler. River cane also has a long history of use within many Native American Tribes of the Southeast, including the Cherokee, Seminole, and Houma which all used river cane in medicine, hunting, and art.
In early 2024, ecologists from RES harvested approximately 700 rhizomes from one of our pre-construction banks in Athens, TN and moved them to a greenhouse off site where they were cleaned, trimmed, and planted. They are currently being monitored for growth and will be replanted on the same site post-construction. During construction we will also be performing two other methods of propagation to find the most effective method for use in stream restoration. This project aims to restore canebrakes to the ecosystem and stabilize the banks of newly constructed streams. The presentation will explain all three methods of propagation and go into the successes and failures that we’ve seen during the monitoring period, as well as highlight the importance of this plant in the ecosystem and as a cultural symbol.
About Delaney Nelson
Coming Soon
About Brandy Manka Hayes
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