Eriophorum vaginatum aka Hare's Tail Cottongrass

Eriophorum vaginatum is a perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family. Its common names include hare's tail cotton grass and canna down. Its native range spans temperate and subarctic Northern Hemisphere regions. It is native to Britain and Ireland. There, it is common in the north and west. Despite its common name, this plant is a sedge, not a grass. It grows in wet places such as moorland bogs.

The plant forms dense tussocks, with very narrow, evergreen leaves. Its stems have a triangular shape. These features give the plant a close, tufted form. The RHS describes it as the neatest of Britain's three native cotton grasses. Yellowish flowers grow in tufted spikes. Rounded seedheads follow, with a soft, cotton-like look. The seedheads mark a clear change from the earlier flowers. They are a key part of the plant's garden appeal.

Choose a site in full sun with soil that stays wet. This plant suits pond margins and purpose-made bog gardens. It grows in acid or neutral soil, including wet peat. The RHS lists clay, loam and sand as suitable soil types. Poor drainage suits its needs, rather than ruling out a site. An open, exposed position is suitable. East-, south- and west-facing sites all appear in the RHS guidance. Wet ground remains the main condition for garden use.

The RHS gives this species a hardiness rating of H7. This covers the coldest European continental conditions, below −20°C. It lists two to five years for plants to reach maturity. Its suggested garden uses also include wildflower meadows. A wet meadow site would match its stated soil needs. Evergreen leaves provide cover beyond the flower and seedhead stages. Dense tussocks give it a defined form beside water or among meadow plants.

Divide the tussocks in early spring to make more plants. Keep plenty of roots on each piece when dividing. The plant needs no routine pruning, according to the RHS. That source also notes that deadheading may extend flowering. It reports few usual problems with pests or disease. The supplied sources give no species-level details on edible parts or toxicity. They therefore provide no basis for treating this sedge as food.