Trichophorum cespitosum (Tufted Bulrush)

Trichophorum spp.

deergrass

Cyperaceae

Northern Hemisphere boreal and montane

Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 2–7

Overview

Trichophorum spp. is a genus of about ten grass-like sedges in the family Cyperaceae, found across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere and on mountains farther south. Plants are tufted or shortly creeping perennials of 6-24 inches (15-60 cm), with very narrow, almost thread-like leaves and slender, three-sided or rounded stems. Small brown spikelets sit singly or in clusters at the stem tips, and in some species the seeds carry pale bristles that lengthen as they ripen. The deergrass, T. cespitosum, forms dense tussocks and is a dominant plant of blanket bog and wet moorland, where its foliage turns orange-brown through autumn and winter. T. alpinum bears spreading white bristles that recall the cottongrasses. The genus grows in wet, acidic, peaty ground that is poor in nutrients, and most species fail in dry or limey soil. Spread is by seed and by short rhizomes, and the tussocks build up slowly over years. Plants are wind-pollinated with inconspicuous flowers, the interest lying in the narrow foliage and its seasonal colour.

Native Range

Native across boreal and cool-temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, from North America through Europe to northern Asia, and on mountains and bogs farther south, in Britain extending onto upland blanket bog.

Suggested Uses

Grown at bog and pond edges, in rain gardens, and in wet, acidic ground where ordinary grasses fail, for foliage texture and winter colour. Used in moorland and wetland restoration where it occurs naturally.

How to Identify

Recognised by dense tufts or patches of very narrow, almost hair-like leaves and thin stems topped by small brown spikelets. Some species carry pale seed bristles. The deergrass forms firm tussocks on wet peat and turns orange-brown in winter, separating Trichophorum spp. from true grasses and from the larger cottongrasses, Eriophorum spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 2'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring Summer

The small brown flower spikelets open in late spring to early summer at the stem tips and are wind-pollinated. Seeds ripen through summer, and in the bristled species the white hairs lengthen as they mature. The flowering heads are modest and short.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green, orange-brown in winter

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

peat

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

These are sedges of wet, acidic, peaty ground in full sun to light shade, with a pH of about 4.0 to 6.5 and constant moisture at the roots. They grow well at pond and bog margins and in rain gardens, and most species decline in dry or alkaline soil. Hardiness is high, with cold tolerance into the coldest zones, roughly zones 2 to 7. Increase is by seed sown fresh on damp peat or by division of the tussocks in spring. Few pests trouble them. Old foliage is combed out by hand in spring.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Old, weathered foliage is combed or trimmed out in early spring before new growth. Tussocks are divided rather than cut back to renew them.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Grass