Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)
Scirpus atrovirens

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Colony-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
A tough, adaptable native sedge for wet edges and rain gardens.

Scirpus atrovirens is a native sedge found along pond margins, stream banks, and wet meadows throughout much of the eastern and central United States. Clumps of three-angled stems rise 4 to 6 feet tall, topped in early-to-mid summer by dense, drooping clusters of dark green spikelets that mature to deep brown by late summer. It spreads gradually from fibrous, rhizomatous roots, slowly forming colonies in consistently wet soil, though it tolerates occasional dryness once established. Green Bulrush is a workhorse for naturalized wet areas: low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and valuable to birds and other wildlife for food and shelter.

Pros

  • Native, low-maintenance sedge for wet soil
  • Deer resistant
  • Provides food and shelter for birds
  • Tolerates standing water and occasional dryness

Cons

  • Spreads by rhizomes and can form colonies over time
  • Inconspicuous flowers offer little ornamental color
Why Like

Green Bulrush can be told apart from its close relative Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus) by its smooth, hairless spikelet clusters -- Wool Grass's seed heads are covered in loose, woolly bristles that give that plant its name.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 6 feet tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet:

Prefers consistently moist to wet soil but tolerates brief dry spells once established.
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Erosion Control, Full Sun, Good for Rain Garden, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period June - August
Flower Color Green Maturing To Dark Brown
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other wetland natives such as Blue Flag Iris, Swamp Milkweed, and Joe Pye Weed.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 06/22
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!