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Hardstem Bulrush

Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis

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Care

Sun

full sun

Water

moderate

Soil

Fast, Medium, Slow, Standing; Tolerant of a variety of garden soils as long as sufficient moisture is available.

Size

3–10ft tall , 3–6ft wide

Bloom

Mar-Aug

Foliage

Evergreen

Edible

Tubers eaten raw or roasted; traditional Indigenous food

Native Range

Marshes, riparian areas, and wetlands throughout California from sea level to 8,000 ft elevation, extending to British Columbia and Mexico

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your hardstem bulrush in full sun in a location where it can stay consistently moist - this native wetland plant thrives in moderate to high water conditions and tolerates standing water, so a pond edge, bioswale, or rain garden is ideal. The plant adapts to various soil types as long as moisture is abundant, so don't worry about amending your soil; focus instead on site drainage that allows water to collect rather than drain away. Plant in spring or early summer to give it the growing season to establish before winter.

After Planting

Water weekly during summer to keep the soil moist, and maintain consistent moisture year-round - this is not a drought-tolerant plant. The bigger mistake most gardeners make is planting hardstem bulrush in a regular garden bed expecting it to behave like an ornamental grass; it will decline without standing water or near-constant moisture. Your plant is evergreen, so you'll see growth year-round in the Bay Area's mild winters; prune dead or damaged stems as needed, but otherwise let it grow into the dense 3- to 10-foot stand it's meant to be.

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