Cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium)

Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) is a stunning native plant that adds a touch of wild beauty to meadows, pond margins, and bog gardens. Though often mistaken for a grass, it’s actually a member of the sedge family, known for its tall, graceful stems and fluffy white flower heads that resemble cotton wool – once even used for pillow stuffing, candle wicks, and wartime wound dressings!

In spring, its dark green, grass-like leaves form neat clumps, which later produce those iconic cotton-like seed heads, swaying gently in the breeze. But it’s not just a pretty face – this plant is a wildlife magnet. Its sturdy stems provide the perfect perch for dragonflies and damselflies as they emerge from the water and transform into winged adults, while the dense clumps offer shelter for small creatures along the pond’s edge.

Details

• Native: Yes
• Sun: Full Sun
• Depth: 0 – 5cm
• Height max: 60cm
• Spread max: 40cm
• Evergreen: Yes

Care Instructions

Cotton Grass is easy to grow in acid soil and requires little maintenance. Simply deadhead spent flowers to keep it looking tidy and divide clumps every few years to encourage healthy growth. Generally pest-free, this hardy plant thrives with minimal fuss

Repotting Instructions

Can also be planted in very wet soil – do not allow to dry out.

9cm marginal plants require potting into a mesh basket. Place in a pond no deeper than 1/3 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish.

1ltr marginal plants do not require repotting but will benefit from a bigger basket, there is no need to remove the mesh basket. Place in pond no deeper than 1/2 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish. Plants over 60cm height growth will benefit from repotting into a larger mesh basket or should be planted in gravel to prevent them from falling over in a breeze.

3ltr and 5ltr plants do not require repotting; there is no need to remove the mesh basket. Place on the shelf of the pond at the required depth.