Scheiden-Wollgras / Scheidiges Wollgras (Wildform)

Season Overview

Description

Wool grasses (bot. Eriophorum) are a genus of plants belonging to the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The name of the genus has its origins in Greek. Here, the term érion means wool. The word phoréein means to carry. The Eriophorum genus includes around 18 plant species worldwide. These species are divided into many subspecies and subgenera. Eriophorum species are mainly native to damp moorland areas. The characteristic woolly tuft on the plants is formed by the long threads on the perianth. The small tuft sits on the stems and is white to orange in color. The woolly tufts are not flowers. Rather, the woolly forms develop during fruiting. The plant genus of cotton grass is known by countless common names in German-speaking countries. In southern Bavaria, around Augsburg, the plants are called cotton grass, wild cotton, Bensenseide, or Bettfedern. In Switzerland, plants of the Eriophorum genus are known by the common names Bäuseli or Riedgras. In northern Germany, species of the cotton grass genus are known by the common name Püskegras. The Silesians refer to the plants as alte Mägde, Wiesenflachs or Quispelbinsen, among other names. Distribution Plants of the Eriophorum genus are widespread in temperate to subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. Cotton grass species are found throughout Europe. Their range extends as far as Greenland. Eriophorum species also grow in arctic and temperate parts of Asia and North America. The plants thrive at altitudes of up to 1,960 meters above sea level. Growth Cotton grass species are perennial plants. They are herbaceous and robust. Depending on the species, the plants grow to heights of between 10 and 60 cm. Some species of the genus reach heights of up to 90 cm. Species or subspecies rarely grow taller than this. Some species of the plant genus grow loosely. They then form long runners and rhizomes. Other species grow in dense and loose clumps. They do not form runners, but stand close together in a dense lawn. The stems of the plants grow upright and are round in cross-section and angular at the top. Leaves The leaves of plants in the Eriophorum genus differ from species to species. They are usually long and pointed in shape. The leaf sheaths appear somewhat inflated. The width of the sheaths ranges from 1-6 mm. In cross-section, the leaf blades are triangular and grooved. The leaves range in color from dark green to a dull gray-green. In some species, the color of the leaves changes to a copper-red tone in late summer. The leaves of Eriophorum species become narrower towards the tip. Depending on the species, they grow up to one meter in length and hang down in an arched shape. Flower Eriophorum species bloom between March and May. Some of the plant species produce a second bloom in late summer. The inflorescence of the plant species of this genus often has two leaf-like bracts. It consists of three to five spikelets. Sometimes up to eight of these spike-shaped flower structures appear. In some species, the spikelets sit on the stem, while in others they have smooth stems and hang slightly. The spikelets of Eriophorum species reach a length of between 10 and 22 mm. The numerous bracts on the perianth grow to a length of up to 5 cm after flowering. Later, they detach together with the fruits, forming the woolly tuft typical of cotton grass species. Fruit Plants of the Eriophorum species form nut-like indehiscent fruits. These are characteristic and typical of grasses. In botany, they are referred to as caryopses, cariopses, grains, or cereals. The caryopsis of cotton grass species is triangular and has a short tip. Depending on the plant genus, the fruits grow up to four millimeters long. They are reddish brown to black. Use Cotton grass species are useful in the renaturation of raised bogs. Here, they take on the role of first colonizers of vegetation-free areas, such as those created by peat extraction.

Growing tips

🌞 Location & soil - Semi-shady to sunny, cool location - Pond shore, shallow water zone, swamp areas, wet meadow, bog bed - Wind-tolerant - Humic, loose, gravelly, peaty (bog soil) - Nutrient-poor soil - Acidic to moderately acidic, low in lime - always moist 🌱 Sowing & planting - Direct sowing: fall (cold germinator) - Substrate: constantly moist, boggy soil & sand - Germination temperature: 15-20 °C / 0-5°C - Germination period: germination from April/May - Sowing depth: 0.2 cm (light germinator) - Planting distance: 30-40 cm - Propagation: Division in spring or fall 💧 Care - Watering: keep evenly moist, no tap water (in the morning or evening) - Fertilization: not necessary - Do not remove plant debris in the fall, build up humus - For self-sowing, allow a few seed heads to mature 🌿 Good neighbors - marsh marigold, marsh forget-me-not, feverfew, marsh fritillary - Water iris, sphagnum moss, marsh hair-grass, cranberry, ferns, reeds - Dactylorhiza, orchid (Dactylorhiza), carnivorous plants 🚫 Bad neighbors - Oregano, thyme, sage, savory, lemon balm, dill, coriander, wormwood - Lavender, rosemary, limb herbs, olive herb, sedum - Rhododendron, roses, hydrangea, lady's slipper - Ivy, goutweed, mint, comfrey, woodruff - Chinese reed, lamplighter grass, fescue, sedge - Phlox, delphinium, coneflower - Funkia, bamboo, begonia, hellebore, purple bellflower - hazel, elder, privet, forsythia - Walnut, maple, birch, willow, chestnut, weigelie, alder - Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries 🍂 Diseases - Gray mold - Leaf spot diseases - Root rot 🐌 Pests - Aphids - Cicadas - Caterpillars - snails

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Light germinator

Germination temperature

15 - 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm