How much sun does woolgrass need?

Woolgrass grows best in part sun to full sun. It can also tolerate part shade, though flowering and seed head density may be reduced in lower light.

How much water does woolgrass require?

This plant needs consistently high moisture and does well in soggy or seasonally flooded soil. It can tolerate medium moisture but does not perform well in dry conditions.

When does woolgrass bloom?

Woolgrass typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of small brown to tan flowers that mature into fuzzy, wool like seed heads.

What pollinators visit woolgrass?

Bees and beetles are commonly observed visiting woolgrass flowers, drawn to the small blooms produced during its summer flowering period.

Does woolgrass die back in winter?

Yes, woolgrass is a deciduous perennial. Its foliage and flowering stems die back after the growing season and regrow from the base each spring.

Is Woolgrass toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Woolgrass as toxic to livestock.

Is Woolgrass HOA-friendly?

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

Woolgrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Scirpus cyperinus

Last reviewed: September 2026

Woolgrass is a clumping wetland sedge that blooms from June through August, producing fluffy tawny seed heads. It thrives in part sun to full sun with consistently high moisture, making it a good fit for rain gardens and pond edges.

Toxicity unknown

Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus) 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 Woolgrass as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

24"–60" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE 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.

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Cotton-grass bulrush is a tall native sedge that forms attractive clumps with distinctive fluffy, cotton-like seed heads in late summer. This moisture-loving plant thrives in wet soils and bog gardens, producing clusters of white to tan cottony plumes that persist into fall.

Growing Woolgrass

Grow Woolgrass in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Woolgrass 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.

Very tall and can appear weedy
Requires consistently wet conditions
Cottony seed heads may look unkempt to some

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during summer blooming. Seeds provide food for waterfowl and songbirds, while the dense growth offers nesting habitat for marsh birds.

Common questions

How much sun does woolgrass need?: Woolgrass grows best in part sun to full sun. It can also tolerate part shade, though flowering and seed head density may be reduced in lower light.
How much water does woolgrass require?: This plant needs consistently high moisture and does well in soggy or seasonally flooded soil. It can tolerate medium moisture but does not perform well in dry conditions.
When does woolgrass bloom?: Woolgrass typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of small brown to tan flowers that mature into fuzzy, wool like seed heads.
What pollinators visit woolgrass?: Bees and beetles are commonly observed visiting woolgrass flowers, drawn to the small blooms produced during its summer flowering period.
Does woolgrass die back in winter?: Yes, woolgrass is a deciduous perennial. Its foliage and flowering stems die back after the growing season and regrow from the base each spring.
Is Woolgrass toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Woolgrass as toxic to livestock.
Is Woolgrass HOA-friendly?: Woolgrass 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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