Variegated phragmites?

[Elise Desjarlais]

Has anyone else seen what appears to be a variegated variety of Phragmites? This is the second occurrence I've personally run into, but I'm not sure if its 100% genetically Phragmites, or a hybrid with another species to produce the variegation. The first patch found was about two years ago growing around a landscaping water feature, and this population is in a planter bed near the Lake Michigan shoreline where we are treating invasive Phragmites for the adjacent landowner. 

I've noticed with both occurrences the variegated variety tends to max out at about 3 feet tall, and I've yet to see tassels on it. 

[Katie Grzesiak]

There are a few variegated phrag stands out there, but this specimen is reed canary grass's horrible alter-ego, ribbon grass
https://www.habitatmatters.org/reed-canary-grass.html

You can ID reed canary grass regardless of coloration from the looooong, papery, clasping ligules coming up from where the blade meets the stem.

[Elise Desjarlais]

I've never even heard of variegated reed canary! Thanks Katie!