The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name: Woolly Grass Bulrush

General Information

Scirpus cyperinus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to Florida and Louisiana.

Habitat

Wet low ground[]. Swamps[]. Marshes, moist meadows, ditches, shallow ponds, frequently growing in disturbed areas from sea level to 800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any wet to moisture retentive ground, pond margins and shallow water in full sun or shade[].
A polymorphic species[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. Used as a rice substitute[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are woven to make matting and ropes[].
The small rushes have been used in making woven mats and storage bags[].
The fruiting tops of the plant have been used as a resilient material for stuffing and making pillows[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in 3cm of water. Only just cover the seed with soil[]. The seed usually germinates fairly quickly. Prick out the plants when large enough to handle and plant out in their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.