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Eriophorum angustifolium

Bog-cotton · Common Cottongrass · Common Cottonsedge · Tall Cottongrass

Family CyperaceaeGenus Eriophorum

White cottony seed heads nodding on slender green stems among meadow grasses
FruitW. BulachCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges, Perennial, Water PlantExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
2.0 ft60 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Altay, Amur and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Frequent Standing Water, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: NonePLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

74% germination in 6–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriophorum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriophorum (Cyperaceae). Both species showed the unusual pattern of germination occurring only in light or OT. Seeds of both species germ. the same for fresh seed or seed DS 6 m, but seeds DS for 1 y were dead. E. angustifolium germ. 70L(74% in 6-12 d) and none in 70D or 70 GA-3. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. Seed placed outdoors in Oct. germ. 20% in Oct. and 70% in April.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriophorum p. 42. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriophorum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriophorum (Cyperaceae). Both species showed the unusual pattern of germination occurring only in light or OT. Seeds of both species germ. the same for fresh seed or seed DS 6 m, but seeds DS for 1 y were dead. E. angustifolium germ. 70L(74% in 6-12 d) and none in 70D or 70 GA-3. A prior 3 m at 40 had no effect. Seed placed outdoors in Oct. germ. 20% in Oct. and 70% in April.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriophorum p. 42. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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