Reed canarygrass has rhizomes and is best known for its ability to lolerate poorly drained soils. It can, however, provide high yields on well-drained or even droughty soils. Reed Canarygrass spreads by rhizomes, develops coarse stems and leaves and quickly loses palatability and digestibility once it heads. Reed canarygrass is slow to establish and is not competitive in the year of seeding.

In the past, livestock have perfomed poorly on reed canarygrass because of certain alkaloids it contained. Recommended reed canarygrass varieties are free of the tryptomine and carboline alkaloids, whch cause poor performance. Some varieties are lower in the gramine alkaloids that reduce palatability, intake and animal performance.