White Beaksedge
Rhynchospora alba
- Native to:
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuril Is., Labrador, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Rhynchospora
- Species:
- Rhynchospora alba
- USDA Symbol:
- RHAL3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, wetland birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire. Common in fire-maintained bogs and wet prairies.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.0 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in bogs and wet meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Requires consistently moist to wet conditions and light for germination. Best sown on surface of saturated peat-based medium.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI