The effects of NH4+ or NO3− on growth, resource allocation and nitrogen (N) uptake kinetics of two common helophytes Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel and Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. were studied in semi steady-state hydroponic cultures. At a steady-state nitrogen availability of 34 μM the growth rate of Phragmites was not affected by the N form (mean RGR = 35.4 mg g−1 d−1), whereas the growth rate of Glyceria was 16% higher in NH4+-N cultures than in NO3−-N cultures (mean = 66.7 and 57.4 mg g−1 d−1 of NH4+ and NO3− treated plants, respectively). Phragmites and Glyceria had higher S/R ratio in NH4+ cultures than in NO3− cultures, 123.5 and 129.7%, respectively.Species differed in the nitrogen utilisation. In Glyceria, the relative tissue N content was higher than in Phragmites and was increased in NH4+ treated plants by 16%. The tissue NH4+ concentration (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt−1) was not affected by N treatment, whereas NO3− contents were higher in NO3− (mean = 1.5 μmol g fresh wt−1) than in NH4+ (mean = 0.4 μmol g fresh wt−1) treated plants. In Phragmites, NH4+ (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt−1) and NO3− (mean = 0.2 μmol g fresh wt−1) contents were not affected by the N regime. Species did not differ in NH4+ (mean = 56.5 μmol g−1 root dry wt h−1) and NO3− (mean = 34.5 μmol g−1 root dry wt h−1) maximum uptake rates (Vmax), and Vmax for NH4+ uptake was not affected by N treatment. The uptake rate of NO3− was low in NH4+ treated plants, and an induction phase for NO3− was observed in NH4+ treated Phragmites but not in Glyceria. Phragmites had low Km (mean = 4.5 μM) and high affinity (10.3 l g−1 root dry wt h−1) for both ions compared to Glyceria (Km = 6.3 μM, affinity = 8.0 l g−1 root dry wt h−1). The results showed different plasticity of Phragmites and Glyceria toward N source. The positive response to NH4+-N source may participates in the observed success of Glyceria at NH4+ rich sites, although other factors have to be considered. Higher plasticity of Phragmites toward low nutrient availability may favour this species at oligotrophic sites.