Arando donax is an evergreen, flowering, stiffly, erect,  tall, perennial rhizomatous reed grass. The culms grow  2-6m  tall and up to 5cm in diameter forming a more or less indefinitely spreading mat.

The culms usually branch in their second year. Fast-growing at a rate of I0cm per day in its native habitat and generally at a rate of 5cm per day in the AP.