Cloaked Bulrush
Scirpus pallidus
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 335. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Scirpus
- Species:
- Scirpus pallidus
- USDA Symbol:
- SCPA8
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- green, brown
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Aristotelia robusta, Elachista enitescens, Elachista madarella, 🛑Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata), 🛑Mitchell's Satyr (Neonympha mitchellii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, songbirds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Fire can help control competing vegetation in wetland margins.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich, organic soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with consistent moisture and light. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI