Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) - Wildlife-Friendly Native Bog-Edge Sedge & Fluffy Seed Heads (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

Soft white “cotton” seed heads bob above slender green leaves in late spring and early summer, giving the pond rim a wild, moorland feel. Eriophorum angustifolium (Cotton Grass) is a UK-native of acid, low-nutrient bogs. In gardens it’s happiest at the boggy collar or on a very shallow shelf, where roots stay permanently wet. It forms clump-forming rhizomes that slowly widen, providing edge cover for amphibians and structure for insects; the silky fibres are sometimes taken as nesting material by small birds. Expect roughly 30-60 cm in growth, with the white plumes appearing from May-July (timing varies with site and weather). It isn’t a nectar plant (wind-pollinated) but it’s excellent habitat and a striking seasonal feature.

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (best flowering in sun)

• Moisture/Zone: Pond collar / bog; crown at water level or with 0-2(-5) cm water over the soil (do not fully submerge)

• Soil: Acidic, low-nutrient, constantly wet medium; ideal in a peat-free bog mix (see Planting & care) and rainwater is strongly preferred

• Setting: Naturalistic rims, bog gardens, barrel ponds kept wet

Planting & care

• Use a peat-free bog mix: 2 parts low-nutrient ericaceous compost : 1 part washed sharp sand/grit (optional: a little loam). Line baskets/voids with hessian to hold fines.

• Keep permanently wet; top up with rainwater to maintain acidity and avoid lime scale.

• Sit in a mesh aquatic basket or bog pocket; top-dress with washed grit to prevent float.

• Do not feed—nutrient-rich composts reduce performance.

• Trim old foliage in late winter; divide clumps every 2-3 years if crowded.

Safety (important & honest):
Ornamental use only - do not ingest. Wash hands after pond work. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses; never release garden plants into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
Cotton Grass is wind-pollinated (not a nectar source), but it’s valuable habitat: cool, dense bases for froglets and invertebrates, and nesting fibre potential for small birds. Team with single-flowered natives (e.g., Myosotis, Loosestrife) nearby to provide nectar through the season.

Joel says…
“For that whisper of wild bog, nothing beats Cotton Grass. Keep it wet, keep it low-nutrient and peat-free, and let those white plumes float over the edge.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.