Eriophorum gracile
Eriophorum gracile
Eriophorum gracile is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is known by the common name slender cottongrass, or slender cottonsedge. Eriophorum gracile is a plant with circumboreal distribution, extending south into mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in wet areas such as bogs. Eriophorum gracile is a thin, tall perennial herb with a slender, rounded, solid, mostly naked stem reaching 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) in height. It produces a fluffy inflorescence atop its stem with a wispy, cottony white flower. The plants grow in colonies, often spreading v
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Gallery
Eriophorum gracile sagisg01Eriophorum gracile NRCS-1
Eriophorum gracile and E. virginicum 1912
Eriophorum gracile-000091757O
Eriophorum gracile sagisg02Eriophorum gracile sagisg01Eriophorum gracile NRCS-1Overview
Eriophorum gracile is a thin, tall perennial herb with a slender, rounded, solid, mostly naked stem reaching in height. It produces a fluffy inflorescence atop its stem with a wispy, cottony white flower. The plants grow in colonies, often spreading vegetatively by rhizome.
Life cycle
From seed to productRhizome planting
Propagated by **rhizome**: divide healthy rhizomes into sections with 2–3 buds, trim the roots and plant in loose, moist soil.
Sprouting
Buds on the rhizome sprout, emerge from the soil and form new roots within 2–4 weeks.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **white cotton-like flower heads, summer**; pollination is by insects and wind.
New rhizomes & harvest
The plant matures and blooms profusely in season; **rhizomes divided after flowering in autumn**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- France16%
- Sweden13%
- Russia12%
- United States11%
- Germany11%
- Canada6%
- Norway5%
- Other regions26%
References
- 1Eriophorum gracile — Wikipedia — Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), 2026
- 2Population Study of ''Eriophorum gracile'' {{small — Wikipedia,
- 3''Eriophorum gracile'' (Slender Cottongrass) — Minnesota Wildflowers,
- 4GBIF — occurrence records of Eriophorum gracile — GBIF, 2026
- 5Hình ảnh — Wikimedia Commons (6 ảnh, giấy phép CC/PD) — Wikimedia Commons, 2026