Rivercane

Dr. Karen Hall describes the history, habitat, and uses of rivercane, Arundinaria gigantea. Rivercane was and still is used extensively by southeastern Native Americans for basketry, home construction and weaponry. Once a major part of the ecosystem, particularly around river bottoms or flood plains, rivercane persists in these environments today. Since most people remove the cane and since fire is no longer a part of our ecosystems, canebreaks no longer dominate southern ecosystems.

[@PalmettoNDN]

There absolutely are canebrakes still existing. There are massive examples in South Carolina that go on for thousands of square acres and the various wetlands, especially in the lowcountry.

[@TwoFeathersSurvival]

I just found a large patch of this in the Goose Creek area, I was looking for a quick ID for this and your video was just what I needed. subscribed and thanks for the awesome info.

[@VasquezVE]

Check out what we are doing in Georgia. We are currently growing thousands of propagates from both rhizome and seed sources. Our Facebook page is "American Cane Society".

[@TurtleTreehouse]

Very cool and informative! Thanks for posting!

[@MrsMika]

What are the negatives of this plant? Where shouldn't this be planted? Would this be good for a wind break?

[@SEEthnobotany]

It is a running bamboo, rather than a clumping type. I would say that outside of its natural range (southeastern US), it is likely to be unpredictable. I don’t know of any horticultural trials on rivercane, either. I know that folks using it in restoration projects have some difficulty in getting it established, though often we get better at things like this with experience and sharing knowledge.

[@MrsMika]

@@SEEthnobotany Thank you for your reply.

[@BK33REVIEWS]

If I harvest this, will it grow back

[@SEEthnobotany]

Yes, but not in the same shape prior to the cut.