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Romfh, Peggy

Schoenoplectus californicus

Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Palla

California Bulrush, California Club-rush, Giant Bulrush

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s): Scirpus californicus, Scirpus californicus var. tereticulmis

USDA Symbol: scca11

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I)

California Club-rush or California Bulrush is a stout, emergent wetland plant to 3-12 ft. with dark-green stems and reddish-brown tassels of flowers and fruits. Leaves are reduced to basal sheaths.

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , IL , KS , LA , MS , NM , OK , OR , SC , TN , TX
Native Distribution: CA coast and Central Valley; possibly indigenous to Hawaii
Native Habitat: Freshwater marshes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Standing water or wet, mucky soils.
Conditions Comments: Used in wetland restorations. Bulrush forms a buffer against wind and wave action, thus permitting other aquatic plants to grow in an otherwise unfavorable environment.

Benefit

Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Description: Germinating seed in water at 86-90 degrees in continous high light gives good results.
Seed Collection: Store fresh, undried seeds in water in refrigerator 6 months.
Seed Treatment: See seed storage notes.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL		OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL			OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: NPC

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