Whitebristle Cottongrass

Eriophorum scheuchzeri var. scheuchzeri

Native to:
Aleutian Is., Austria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Labrador, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cyperaceae
Genus:
Eriophorum
Species:
Eriophorum scheuchzeri var. scheuchzeri
USDA Symbol:
ERAL7

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
40 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
white

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
waterfowl, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
peaty, nutrient-poor, waterlogged soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
commonly found in alpine and subarctic bogs

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Requires consistently moist to wet conditions and cool temperatures for germination. Light may enhance germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI