Great Bulrush

Scientific name

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

Description

Great Bulrush, also referred to as Soft-stem Bulrush, is a member of the sedge family and grows to about 2 m tall. The stems are round, smooth, and are easily crushed between the fingers. Leaves appear near the base of the plant and are about half the length of the stem. The spikelets (flower clusters) are arranged in a terminal spike with 15-200 spikelets each. The spikelets are orange-brown in colour, lance-elliptic shaped, and pointed at the tip. Great Bulrush grows from rhizomes, which helps to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion. Great Bulrush acts as a buffer against wind and wave action, which is beneficial to other plants not capable of withstanding such pressures.

Planting conditions

Great Bulrush is an aquatic plant that prefers to grow in wet, mucky soils or shallow water. It will grow in soils with neutral or alkaline pH and prefers full to partial sun. Great Bulrush can naturally be found growing along lake shores, streams, marshes, bogs, fens, and ditches.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Humus
• pH:
  • Basic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
  • 7b
  • 8a
  • 8b
  • 9a
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 2 m
• Spread:
  • 1 m