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Small-fruited bulrush

Scirpus microcarpus

perennial herb View on Calscape

Care

Sun

part shade

Water

moderate

Soil

Standing; Adaptable, tolerant of sand, loam and clay.

Size

3–6ft tall

Bloom

Mar-May

Foliage

Deciduous

Container

Friendly

Edible

Tubers boiled or roasted; traditional Indigenous food

Native Range

Freshwater marshes and riparian areas throughout California from the north coast to San Diego County, below 3000 ft elevation, extending northward to British Columbia.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your small-fruited bulrush in part shade in a location where it can stay consistently wet or even sit in standing water - this is a marsh plant, so wet is what it wants. It's adaptable to sand, loam, or clay soils, so drainage isn't a concern the way it is with other plants; in fact, poor drainage is ideal. Space it with room to reach its full 5–6 feet tall and equally wide at maturity. Spring is the best time to plant, giving it the growing season ahead.

After Planting

Water deeply and consistently through your first summer and into fall; this plant thrives in wet habitats and shouldn't dry out. Once established (by year two), it will handle the Bay Area's dry summers better than you'd expect, though it will perform best if you can keep it moist. In late fall or early winter, the foliage will die back - this is normal for a deciduous plant. The biggest mistake people make is trying to dry it out; resist the urge to let it go dry, especially in its first year.

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