Wool grass is a native North American sedge that brings the grace of wetland ecosystems into gardens, thriving in zones 4 through 8. This rhizomatous perennial grows 3 to 5 feet tall in dense, slowly-spreading tussocks of arching green leaves, with upright flowering stems that rise above the foliage. It blooms from June through July with insignificant flowers, but its real appeal lies in its ability to naturalize and self-sow in wet soils, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, pond margins, and bog gardens where other ornamentals struggle.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-8
60in H x 48in W
—
Low
Hover over chart points for details
Wool grass spreads through creeping rhizomes to form colonies in wet conditions, making it invaluable for stabilizing muddy shorelines and wet meadows. It grows equally well in full sun or partial shade and tolerates shallow standing water, moist soils, and even submerged conditions when planted in containers within water gardens. The arching basal foliage creates a soft, textural presence in the landscape, and once established in optimum conditions, it requires minimal care while naturally controlling erosion and filtering water.
Wool grass serves primarily as a naturalized water plant in rain gardens, bog gardens, and along pond and stream margins. It is commonly used in water gardens and wetland restoration projects, where its spreading rhizomes help stabilize muddy banks and its dense growth provides habitat structure for wildlife. The plant thrives in shallow standing water and mud margins, making it especially useful in landscape designs that aim to recreate or enhance natural wetland conditions.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Divide established clumps in spring for transplanting. Plant directly in moist to wet soils at pond margins, stream edges, or bog gardens, or use submerged containers in larger water gardens.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Scirpus cyperinus is native to eastern North America, where it has inhabited wet meadows, swamps, sloughs, marshes, bottomland prairies, and stream and pond margins for millennia. This sedge plays an ecological role in wetland systems across its native range, and its ability to colonize disturbed wet areas has made it valuable to contemporary restoration ecologists and water garden designers seeking authentic, low-maintenance vegetation for natural landscapes.”