Phalaris arundinacea var picta (Gardener's garters)

Phalaris arundinacea, commonly known as reed canary grass, is a striking variegated marginal grass with upright, arching foliage marked by bold green and creamy white stripes. The leaves form dense, reed-like clumps that add strong vertical emphasis and brightness to pond margins, ditches, and other wet areas, with subtle flower heads appearing above the foliage in summer.

This plant is particularly valuable in wildlife-friendly settings, offering shelter and cover for amphibians, aquatic insects, and small animals. Its vigorous, spreading habit helps bind damp or waterlogged soils, making it useful for stabilising banks while contributing texture and movement to naturalistic planting schemes.