Scirpus cyperinus

Scirpus cyperinus, commonly called woolgrass, is a grass-like, rhizomatous, emergent aquatic perennial of the sedge family that grows in dense slowly-spreading tussocks of arching basal green leaves with upright flowering stems (culms) rising to 3-5’ tall. It is native to wet meadows, swamps, sloughs, marshes, bottomland prairies, stream/pond margins and wet disturbed areas in eastern North America. Each culm (unbranched and three-angled to rounded) has 5-10 ascending to spreading leaf blades (each to 32” long and ¼ to ½” wide), and is topped in early summer (late June-July) by an inflorescence (compound umbel to 4-6” long and as wide) of dark green spikelets which mature, by late summer (August-September) as the seed develops, to reddish brown with an attractive soft woolly appearance resulting from the brown bristles of the achenes (seeds). The foliage turns yellow-brown in fall. The woolly inflorescences remain attractive well into winter.

The species is easily grown in moist to wet soils including shallow standing water in full sun to part shade. Prefers some light shade in hot summer climates. In large water gardens, it may be grown in submerged containers. May also be planted in the mud at the margins of ponds or streams or in bog gardens. Clumps may be divided in spring. Naturalizes by creeping rhizomes, and, if left undisturbed in optimum growing conditions, it will spread to form colonies. Will self-sow in the landscape. New plants are best started in spring or fall.

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