SafePlants

Switch Cane (Arundinaria tecta)

Switch cane, scientifically known as Arundinaria tecta, is a native bamboo of the southeastern United States. It is often mistaken for "bamboo proper" due to its physical characteristics, though it's technically a woody grass.

Considerations for Pets

• Switch cane is described as twiggy, which could pose a minor risk if ingested by pets.
• As a grass, it is grazed by cattle.

Considerations for Children

• Switch cane is described as twiggy, which could pose a minor risk if ingested by children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Arundinaria tecta (Walter) Muhl.
• Common Name: Switch Cane
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Synonyms: Some sources treat the subspecies tecta as its own species, Arundinaria tecta. It is considered a subspecies of Arundinaria gigantea: Arundinaria gigantea Muhl. ssp. tecta (Walt.) McClure.

Distribution and Habitat

• Switch cane is native to the southeastern United States.
• It commonly grows in moist bottomlands in the forest understory.
• It thrives in watery or moist locations, especially in the southern U.S.
• It shares a preference with woodcock for moist, sand/loam soils often found in flood plains along East Texas creeks.
• A map of its distribution in Oklahoma is available.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a colonial woody grass.
• It is an erect, perennial bamboo.
• This subspecies of A. gigantea can reach a height of 4 to 20 feet and a diameter of up to 1/2 inch.
• It is described as twiggy.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Switch cane is readily grazed by cattle.
• It is a butterfly larval host plant.

Quirky Facts

• Switch cane is one of only two bamboo species native to the continental United States.

Further Resources

• USDA NRCS National Plant Data Team
• Dave's Garden
• Wikimedia Commons (for images)