This perennial cottongrass common name is misleading as it is a sedge and not a grass. Sedges have shallow triangular shaped, in cross-section, long leaves that are not flat like grass leaves. The latifolium species may be difficult to find in North Carolina but is quite similar to most of the other cottongrass Eriophorum species and especially similar to Eriophorum angustifolium . While its common name is Broad Leaved Cotton Grass, the leaf is just slightly wider and flatter than the E. angustifolium . The leaf is about 8 mm or slightly wider. The plant name prefixes "augusti" and "lati" are Latin for narrow and broad leaved, in this case. However, the latifolium is barely wider than the augustifolium. The name Eriophorum is greek for "wool bearing". The following content is the same as on the Eriophorum augustifolium site as these two sedges' growth habits are similar. 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. This sedge plant is usually about 12 inches tall though it can grow up to 2 to 3 feet. 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 often self-pollinating because the flowers are "perfect", meaning each contains both male (stamen) and female (carpel) reproductive) parts. Some are wind-pollinated.
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, 9a, 9b
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)
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending
Texture
Fine
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, though this sedge 'leaf' is a bit flatter than the more triangular augustifolium (narrow leaf cottongrass). The leaves are flat and alternately placed on the stem, up to 8-10 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
White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; 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, with a spike tip. The flower appears like a soft cotton cloud from a distance. Up close, very thin strands make up the flower. It can be used as a cut flower.