This perennial sedge is not native to the mid-Atlantic region beginning with Pennsylvania south and also not throughout the southern tier of states. The plant grows in its native areas (northern tier of U.S. and Siberia) in wet areas such as marshlands, boggy areas, and in very shallow waters, including wet ditches. It can also grow in predominantly wet soil adjacent to ponds and rivers. It prefers an acidic pH soil, likes peat but also grows in sandy or clay soil and in sun to partial shade. It can adapt to its less than native conditions if attention is given to its location, water, soil, and nutrient needs. The plant can be grown in pots or garden water features in about 2 to 3 inches of standing water. This sedge plant is usually about 12 inches tall though it can grow up to 2 to 3 feet in some areas of the country. It reproduces through both seeds and root spread. It has angular, v-shaped leaves and tassels of white, cotton colored flowers on leafy stems. To avoid the plant spreading, the seeds must be removed before maturity when wind spreads them, and the plant roots divided every two years or so. Cottongrasses are self-pollinating because the flowers are "perfect", meaning each contains both male (stamen) and female (carpel) reproductive) parts.
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.
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges; Perennial; Water Plant
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaf stems are triangular, as are all sedge leaves. The leaves are flat and alternately placed on the stem, 2 to 8 mm wide. The leaf is up to 16 inches long. The uppermost leaf is about as long as or longer than its sheath.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Clusters of spikes off the stem, usually oval initially and then are cone shaped or fanlike due to the thin tassels as seeds appear. Each flower has at its base a single scale brownish to purple in color, with a spike tip.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit detail
Seeds are inedible, are brown in color, and less than 1/10th inch long. They are 3-sided if viewed crosswise or downward from the tip end.