Does it need to be in water?

It prefers very wet, boggy soil but does not need to be fully submerged.

Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?

Only if you have a dedicated bog area or a container that holds water, as it will die in dry soil.

Plant guide

Hare's tail cottongrass.

Eriophorum vaginatum

Pronounced eh-ree-OH-for-um va-jin-AY-tum

Also known as Cottongrass, Hare's-Tail Cottongrass, Hare's-tail Cotton Sedge, Harestail, Tussock cottonsedge, dense cotton-grass, hare-tail cotton-grass

tussock cottongrass — Photo by Norma Malinowski (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This charming sedge is a staple of boggy landscapes and wetlands. It produces distinctive, fluffy white seed heads that look just like little cotton tufts. It is a hardy perennial that brings a soft, wild texture to any damp garden spot.

Another photo of Hare's tail cottongrass — Photo by Dominic Marjoram (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Sedge
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 2 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 7
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently saturated or standing in shallow water to mimic its natural wetland home. Watch for browning leaf tips, which often signal that the soil has dried out too much. Ensure it gets plenty of sun to encourage those signature fluffy heads.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist or submerged in shallow water.
Feeding: Usually does not need fertilizer, as it is adapted to nutrient poor bog soil.
Pruning: Cut back dead foliage in late winter or early spring.
Repotting: Divide the clumps every few years to keep the plant vigorous.
Soil: Peaty, acidic, wet soil
Soil pH: Acidic
Temperature: -40 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 100%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Stunted growth
Center of the clump dying back

Safety

People: There is no evidence of toxicity in humans.
Children: The sharp, grass-like leaves can cause paper-cut style injuries, so keep it away from play areas.
Contact allergens: The leaves have sharp edges that can cause minor skin abrasions if handled without gloves.
Airborne allergens: The wind-dispersed pollen may cause mild respiratory irritation for sensitive individuals.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and is primarily grown for its ornamental value in bog gardens.

How to identify it

Clump forming perennial sedge
Tufted white cottony seed heads
Slender grass like basal leaves
Stiff upright flowering stems

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, blue-green, evergreen
Flowers: white, 1 to 3cm
Fruit: white, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Root rot · Occurs if the soil lacks proper aeration in stagnant water.

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Leave the foliage intact as it is evergreen and provides structure through the winter. It is fully hardy and does not require special protection from cold.
In containers: It grows well in containers as long as they are kept in a water tray to maintain constant moisture.

Division

1. Carefully lift the clump in spring.
2. Use a sharp spade to divide the root mass into smaller sections.
3. Replant immediately into wet, acidic soil.

Group plants that require constant moisture and acidic soil to ensure they all thrive in the same bog environment.

Grows well with

Bog Rosemary · It shares the same affinity for acidic, wet bog conditions.
Sundew · These small carnivorous plants thrive in the same nutrient-poor, wet environments.
Marsh Marigold · It provides a bright yellow contrast to the white cotton heads.

Similar species

Common Cottongrass · It has multiple flower heads per stem rather than the single head of E. vaginatum.

Science

Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Eriophorum
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Circumpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Conservation: It is widespread in its native range and not currently of conservation concern.

It survives in waterlogged, acidic peat bogs by forming dense tussocks that stabilize the soil.

Value to wildlife: nesting material for birds, seeds for small mammals
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: bog gardens, pond edges, naturalistic landscapes, dried floral arrangements

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 2/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 2/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need to be in water?: It prefers very wet, boggy soil but does not need to be fully submerged.
Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?: Only if you have a dedicated bog area or a container that holds water, as it will die in dry soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Eriophorum comes from the Greek words for wool and bearing, referring to the cottony seed heads, while the species name vaginatum refers to the sheath-like leaves.

Good to know

It is a sedge, not a true grass.
The white tufts are actually modified bristles that help with wind dispersal.
It thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor peat bogs.
It is a classic plant for recreating a moorland aesthetic.

Also in

Deer-resistant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.