What kind of soil and moisture does common cotton-grass need?

Common cotton-grass grows in saturated, boggy or peaty soil and needs consistently high moisture. It is often found in fens, bogs, and wet meadows rather than typical garden beds.

How much sun does common cotton-grass need?

This grass grows best in full sun. In the open wetlands where it thrives, there is usually little to no canopy cover overhead.

When does common cotton-grass bloom?

It blooms from April through July, with fluffy white seed heads that appear after flowering and persist into summer.

Does common cotton-grass attract pollinators?

No specific pollinator relationships are documented for this species. Like many sedges, it is primarily wind pollinated rather than insect pollinated.

Is Common Cotton-grass toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Common Cotton-grass as toxic to livestock.

Is Common Cotton-grass HOA-friendly?

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

Common Cotton-grass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Eriophorum angustifolium

Last reviewed: August 2026

Common cotton-grass is a sedge-like grass of bogs, fens and wet meadows that produces fluffy white seed heads and blooms from April through July.

Toxicity unknown

Common Cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) 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 Common Cotton-grass as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun, Jul

Native to

CO, IA, ID, IL and 14 more states

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.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts Southern Rockies Northwestern Glaciated 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 Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains

Common cotton-grass is a wetland sedge that produces distinctive white, fluffy seed heads resembling cotton balls in summer. This moisture-loving plant thrives in boggy conditions and wet soils where few other plants can survive.

Growing Common Cotton-grass

Grow Common Cotton-grass in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Common Cotton-grass takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires constantly wet soil conditions
Has wild, unmaintained appearance
Seed heads can look messy as they age

Wildlife value

The seeds provide food for waterfowl and wetland birds. The plant offers nesting material and habitat for marsh-dwelling wildlife.

Common questions

What kind of soil and moisture does common cotton-grass need?: Common cotton-grass grows in saturated, boggy or peaty soil and needs consistently high moisture. It is often found in fens, bogs, and wet meadows rather than typical garden beds.
How much sun does common cotton-grass need?: This grass grows best in full sun. In the open wetlands where it thrives, there is usually little to no canopy cover overhead.
When does common cotton-grass bloom?: It blooms from April through July, with fluffy white seed heads that appear after flowering and persist into summer.
Does common cotton-grass attract pollinators?: No specific pollinator relationships are documented for this species. Like many sedges, it is primarily wind pollinated rather than insect pollinated.
Is Common Cotton-grass toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Common Cotton-grass as toxic to livestock.
Is Common Cotton-grass HOA-friendly?: Common Cotton-grass 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 the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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

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