Size/Form:
Large, erect grass up to 20 feet tall and occurring in dense stands called canebrakes.

Stem:
The stems (called culms) of switchcane are woody, hard, and branched and grow up to 20 feet tall and 1 inch thick. There are culm sheaths at each node.

Leaves:
The leaves occur in groups of 3 to 5 and are 3 to 12 inches long and ½ inch wide.

Flowers:
The inflorescence is a raceme or panicle with 8-12 flowers. The switchcane only flowers once in its lifetime and then dies.

Fruit:
The fruit is a caryopsis and is very small (just 8 mm long by 3 mm wide).