Green Bulrush vs Idaho Fescue - TreeTime.ca

Green Bulrush vs Idaho Fescue

Scirpus pallidus

Festuca idahoensis

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Green Bulrush
Idaho Fescue

Green Bulrush is a common waterside plant, suitable for erosion control and land reclamation. Despite this, Green Bulrush is very drought resistant once established. Bulrushes can cool nearby areas on hot days.

Unlike many of the other waterside plants available, Green Bulrush does not attract wildlife. This makes it a good choice for surrounding residential water sources.

Green Bulrush is topped with spiky balls of florets, green in the spring and fading to brown in the fall.

Idaho Fescue is a native perennial bunchgrass recognized for its fine-textured, blue-green foliage. Its dense, tufted growth and deep root system make it drought-tolerant and effective at stabilizing soils, particularly on slopes and open grasslands. Its upright, arching form and dense clumps give it strong ornamental value in both natural and designed landscapes.
This hardy grass provides cover for wildlife and forage for grazing animals, while also supporting soil health and habitat diversity. Idaho Fescue is well-suited for erosion control, ecological restoration, naturalization, xeriscaping, and habitat enhancement projects.

Green Bulrush Quick Facts

Idaho Fescue Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - low
Suckering: medium


Foliage: long thin whitish green
Flowers: green spiked clusters
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK
Other Names: cloaked bulrush, pale bulrush, pale-green bulrush
Other Names: blue bunchgrass, bluebunch fescue