Description

Eriophorum angustifolium, commonly known as Cotton Grass or Bog Cotton, is a beautiful native plant that adds a soft, ethereal quality to damp landscapes. With its grass-like foliage and distinctive fluffy heads of white, cotton-like flowers, this plant brings a delicate yet striking texture to wetlands, bogs, and water gardens.

Historically, the fluffy heads of Cotton Grass were harvested for use in pillow stuffing and even to make candle wicks, thanks to their soft, lightweight nature. This hardy plant is often seen growing wild on Scottish moors, thriving in the damp, acidic soils of boggy, wetland areas. It is perfect for adding a touch of wild, natural beauty to your garden, especially near ponds or in bog gardens where its soft white tufts can create a stunning contrast against darker foliage.

Features:

• Grass-like foliage with fluffy, white, cotton-like flower heads
• Hardy and ideal for damp, acidic, boggy soils or water gardens
• Historically used for pillow stuffing and candle wicks
• Perfect for creating a soft, natural texture in wetlands, bogs, or ponds
• Native to areas like Scottish moors, making it perfect for naturalized garden settings

Bring the beauty and history of Eriophorum angustifolium to your garden for a touch of softness and rustic charm that thrives in wet, acidic environments.

Repotting or planting

9cm marginal plants require potting into a larger mesh basket. Place in a pond no deeper than 1/3 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish. 1ltr marginal plants do not require repotting, place in the pond no deeper than 1/2 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish, plants over 60cm height growth will benefit from repotting into a larger mesh basket or should be planted in gravel to prevent them from falling over. 3ltr and 5ltr plants do not require repotting, as they are larger more established plants they can be placed up to the maximum recommended depth. There is no need to remove the mesh basket.

Care instructions

Leave old growth standing through winter. Cut down in spring when new shoots have grown to about 15cm high.

Colour

White

Growth rate

slow

Flowers

Jun- Sept

Sun/shade

Full sun to part shade

Native

Season

Spring-Summer

Measurements in centimetres

Height Min -Max

30-50

Depth Min-Max

0-20