Slimstem Reedgrass vs Panicled Bulrush - TreeTime.ca

Slimstem Reedgrass vs Panicled Bulrush

Calamagrostis stricta

Scirpus microcarpus

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Slimstem Reedgrass
Panicled Bulrush

Slimstem Reedgrass is a native perennial bunchgrass commonly found in damp meadows, wetlands, and along streams and lakeshores. It thrives in wet, nutrient-poor soils and shows some tolerance to saline conditions. Typically a bunchgrass, it can also spread by rhizomes to form colonies, making it well-suited for soil stabilization, riparian zone planting, and wetland restoration projects.
Slimstem Reedgrass provides valuable cover for small animals and birds, and its dense growth can even serve as nesting habitat for waterfowl in wetland areas. Its seeds offer forage for wildlife, while the tall stems and floral spikes add texture and visual interest to the landscape.

Panicled Bulrush is a native perennial sedge that thrives in saturated soils and shallow water. Spreading readily by rhizomes, it quickly forms tall clumps that make it especially valuable for riparian plantings, erosion control, ecological restoration, and naturalization projects.
Its many-branched clusters of small flower heads give the plant its name and add texture to wetland landscapes. In addition to stabilizing shorelines and improving habitat quality, Panicled Bulrush provides food and cover for waterfowl, small mammals, and other wildlife. A cool-season grower, it is most active in spring and fall, slowing or going dormant during the heat of summer.

Slimstem Reedgrass Quick Facts

Panicled Bulrush Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, clump-forming
Growth form: upright, clump-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - high, seeds - low
Spreading: rhizomes - high


Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Other Names: narrow reedgrass, narrow-leaved reed grass, narrow-spiked reedgrass, slim-stemmed reedgrass
Other Names: red-sheathed bulrush, red-tinged bulrush, small-flowered bulrush, small-fruited bulrush