How to Grow Cosmopolitan Bulrush

Overview

Cosmopolitan bulrushes are a wetlands plant that is often mistaken for cattails. Bulrushes grow to ten feet tall and are native to most of North America and Canada. Bulrushes have grass-like leaves that have a purplish red tint with a dense brown "fruit" at the top that puffs as it ripens. Bulrushes are popular among water gardeners and can be found in just about any full-service garden center.

Growing Cosmopolitan Bulrushes

Step 1

Choose a location in shallow water along lakes or ponds or in soggy, moist alkaline soil with full or most sun.

Step 2

Dig a shallow hole just bigger that the container, if purchased from a garden center, or twice as large as the rhizome. Bulrushes have a rhizome root system that grows just below the ground's surface. Rhizomes spread horizontally along the surface, creating new growth with each new season. Bulrushes can also propagate by seed but this occurs at a much slower rate.

Step 3

Keep your bulrushes wet. Like all water plants, bulrushes need little care except a constant water supply.

Step 4

Control growth by mowing down a portion occasionally. Bulrushes will not be affected by herbicides, and digging up rhizomes will not help with seed-spread growth.