Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla
Cosmopolitan Bulrush, Saltmarsh Club-rush, Alkali Bulrush, Prairie Bulrush, Bayonet Grass
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Synonym(s): Bolboschoenus paludosus, Schoenoplectus maritimus, Scirpus fernaldii, Scirpus maritimus, Scirpus maritimus var. fernaldii, Scirpus maritimus var. paludosus, Scirpus pacificus, Scirpus paludosus, Scirpus paludosus var. atlanticus
USDA Symbol: BOMA7
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), HI (N), CAN (NI)
Saltmarsh Club-rush or Alkali Bulrush is a rhizomatous perennial, 16-60 in. tall. The grass-like leaves have reddish-purple bases. Small, brown, terminal spikes occur in a rounded, compact, terminal cluster. This cluster may be surpassed by additional clusters on short pecuncles. Leafy bracts extend beyond the clusters.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Green , BrownBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , HI , IA , ID , IL , KS , LA , MA , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WYCanada: BC , NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Scattered throughout temperate N. America; more common along seacoasts
Native Habitat: Marshes; water body margins; wet, alkali & saline meadows
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Wet, saline or alkaline soil.
Conditions Comments: Plants of w. and c. U.S. often belong to var. paludosus. The more eastern var. maritimus varies only slightly in physical characteristics.
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesFind Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Bolboschoenus maritimus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Bolboschoenus maritimus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Bolboschoenus maritimus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-03-23Research By: TWC Staff