Despite its name, this native wetland plant belongs to the sedge family. Its compact flowering heads develop cottonlike bristles as the fruits mature.
Tawny Cottongrass in flower. Select the photograph for a closer view.
Family: Cyperaceae (sedges)
Life cycle: Perennial
Height: About 16–48 inches
Habitat: Bogs, peaty wetlands and conifer swamps
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Look in sunny, wet peatlands, bog openings and wet meadows. Fruiting heads are often present from July through September, depending on location and season.
Compare the leafy bracts and clustered spikes with other cottongrasses. White Beaksedge can look similar in flower, but lacks the conspicuous long bracts and cottony appearance.
Threadlike bristles surround the tiny flowers and remain with the fruits. The photograph shows the pale flowering stage, before the familiar mature cottony head develops.
The few narrow leaves may bend or droop. Stems are smooth and weakly angled to nearly round. Photograph the whole plant as well as its head to capture these useful details.
1 field photograph. Select the image to enlarge it.
Explore submitted observations for a view of this species’ reported distribution.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Explore more grasses, sedges and rushes in the field guide.
Photograph and species identification: Brian Woolman, Where’s Wildlife.
Minnesota Wildflowers: Tawny Cottongrass · West Virginia DEP: Tawny Cottongrass
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