American bulrush
Schoenoplectus americanus · Aquatic plants
Out of the water · Photo: Bonnie Isaac / CC0
Also called Scirpus americanus, Olney threesquare (in part)
How to identify American bulrush
- Stout triangular stems with flat to slightly concave sides
- Flower cluster on the side of the stem near the tip
- Tall, often 3 to 6 feet
- Grows from long rhizomes
Similar plants
Threesquare bulrush has thinner stems with deeply concave sides; hardstem bulrush has round stems.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Shoots emerge in late spring, flowers in summer, dies back in fall and overwinters as rhizomes. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 50 to 55 F soil; full sun |
| Light | Needs full sun |
| Depth | Moist shoreline to about 2 feet of water |
| How it spreads | Rhizomes and seeds |
| Habitat | Shallow marshes and pond edges, often in alkaline or brackish water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Salt tolerant and long lived; seeds and rhizomes feed waterfowl and muskrats.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Rare
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Rare
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Cyperaceae |
| Scientific name | Schoenoplectus americanus |
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Baltic rushNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
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