This is a tall wildflower with a single rounded button like flower head at the top of its stalk which is leafless. It grows in NC and all Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and Mid-South states and is found along roadsides, in pinelands and near ponds. The flower stalk, ranging from 1 to 3 feet tall, rises from a cluster of usually submerged, sheathed, linear, basal leaves. It grows in damp soil or shallow water. The dried heads remain white and can be used in flower arrangements. It needs a wet or damp area in which to thrive and does well along pond margins or indoors as a terrarium plant. The origin of the names comes from the Greek word "erio" meaning "wool" and "caul(o)" meaning "a stem" which references the woolly hairs found at the base of the flowering scape. The species compressum means "flattened sideways" and is likely in references to the flower heads which can be flattened when pressed.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
The grass like leaves are linear with parallel veins 2"-12" long with a pointed apex. The leaves are arranged in a rosette at the base of the plant and are sharply pointed and grasslike.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Good Cut
Flower form
Head
Flower detail
The compact cottony white head is composed of many small flowers on top of a slender stem; dried heads with stems can be used in flower arrangements. It blooms from late winter to spring.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Woolly hairs at the base of the flowering scape.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
New Jersey to Texas
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Pond; Riparian
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden
Garden tags
#flower arrangements #small flowers #NC native #swamps #pond margins #flowers late spring #flowers early spring #terrarium #flowers late winter #roadside #grass-like #wet soils intolerant #wet soils tolerant #dried arrangements #white flowers #flowers mid-spring #wildflower #pond