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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Scirpus atrovirens (Green bulrush)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Scirpus atrovirens Willd.

Green bulrush, Dark green bulrush

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

USDA Symbol: SCAT2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A sedge with stems to 4 1/2 ft. Leaves are grasslike but broad. The terminal inflorescense contains many spikelets that are crowded into dense, nearly spherical heads on rays that angle out in different directions.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Leaf: Dark Green
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CT , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
Canada: BC , NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: S. Que. to Sask. & ID, s. to GA, TN & LA
Native Habitat: Meadows; bogs; lake borders
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Short-lived. Bulrush forms a buffer against wind and wave action, thus permitting other aquatic plants to grow in an otherwise unfavorable environment.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Provides important food and cover for waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds and muskrats.
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Sunshine Farm & Gardens - Renick, WV
Ohio Prairie Nursery - Hiram, OH

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Scirpus atrovirens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Scirpus atrovirens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Scirpus atrovirens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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