When does broadfruit bur-reed bloom?

Broadfruit bur-reed generally flowers from June through August, with small greenish white male flowers held above rounded female flower clusters on the same stalk.

What growing conditions does broadfruit bur-reed need?

This forb performs best in full sun with consistently high water, such as shallow marsh edges, pond margins, and slow ditches where its base stays wet or submerged.

What pollinates broadfruit bur-reed?

Bees and beetles visit the flower heads of broadfruit bur-reed, and wind also carries pollen between the separate male and female flower clusters.

Does broadfruit bur-reed die back in winter?

Yes, it is a deciduous perennial. The above ground stems and leaves die back after the growing season and new shoots emerge from the rootstock the following spring.

Is Broadfruit Bur-reed toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Broadfruit Bur-reed as toxic to livestock.

Is Broadfruit Bur-reed HOA-friendly?

Broadfruit Bur-reed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Broadfruit Bur-reed

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Sparganium eurycarpum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Broadfruit bur-reed is an emergent wetland forb that blooms from June through August, forming spiky seed heads along marshes, pond edges, and slow-moving streams.

Toxicity unknown

Broadfruit Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Broadfruit Bur-reed as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

24"–60" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, CT and 34 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Northwestern Forested Mountains Arizona/New Mexico Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Broadfruit bur-reed is a tall aquatic perennial that produces distinctive spherical flower clusters in summer and requires consistently wet or waterlogged soil to thrive. This plant is best suited for rain gardens, pond edges, or constructed wetland areas.

Growing Broadfruit Bur-reed

Grow Broadfruit Bur-reed in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Broadfruit Bur-reed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires constantly wet conditions unsuitable for typical landscapes
Wild, unkempt appearance inappropriate for maintained areas
Spiky seed heads can appear messy

Wildlife value

The summer flowers attract bees and beetles, while the seeds provide food for waterfowl and marsh birds. Dense stands offer nesting habitat for red-winged blackbirds and other wetland species.

Common questions

When does broadfruit bur-reed bloom?: Broadfruit bur-reed generally flowers from June through August, with small greenish white male flowers held above rounded female flower clusters on the same stalk.
What growing conditions does broadfruit bur-reed need?: This forb performs best in full sun with consistently high water, such as shallow marsh edges, pond margins, and slow ditches where its base stays wet or submerged.
What pollinates broadfruit bur-reed?: Bees and beetles visit the flower heads of broadfruit bur-reed, and wind also carries pollen between the separate male and female flower clusters.
Does broadfruit bur-reed die back in winter?: Yes, it is a deciduous perennial. The above ground stems and leaves die back after the growing season and new shoots emerge from the rootstock the following spring.
Is Broadfruit Bur-reed toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Broadfruit Bur-reed as toxic to livestock.
Is Broadfruit Bur-reed HOA-friendly?: Broadfruit Bur-reed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Broadfruit Bur-reed? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz