Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Reed Canarygrass?

Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) — a grass. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea). Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Phalaris arundinacea
Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grass
Also known as
reed-grass, reed-canary grass, Reed Canary-grass, Reed Canary Grass, Reed canary grass
Toxic parts
High-alkaloid varieties
Toxic compound
Indole and gramine alkaloids

Why it matters

Modern low-alkaloid varieties are good forage. Wild stands can be unpalatable. Related Phalaris aquatica causes 'phalaris staggers' in Australia.

Signs of reed canarygrass poisoning in alpacas

  • Reduced intake and gains
  • Rarely staggers

If your alpaca ate a lot of reed canarygrass

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Phalaris arundinacea, or reed canary grass, is a tall, perennial grass that commonly forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. Other common names for the plant include gardener's-garters and ribbon grass in English, alpiste roseau in French, Rohrglanzgras in German, kusa-yoshi in Japanese, caniço-malhado in Portuguese, and hierba cinta and pasto cinto in Spanish.From Wikipedia — “Phalaris arundinacea”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 801,822 recorded observations of Phalaris arundinacea L. worldwide, including 36,305 in the United States. It belongs to the Poaceae family, together with Johnsongrass, Cheatgrass, Corn Plants & Stalks, Dallisgrass (ergot-infected), Foxtail Barley & Foxtail Grasses. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is reed canarygrass poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Modern low-alkaloid varieties are good forage. Wild stands can be unpalatable. Related Phalaris aquatica causes 'phalaris staggers' in Australia.
What part of reed canarygrass is toxic to alpacas?
High-alkaloid varieties.
What are the symptoms of reed canarygrass poisoning?
Reduced intake and gains and rarely staggers.
Is dried reed canarygrass safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q157419.