This densely tufted, clump-forming perennial sedge is one of several important species of wetland plants that provide food and cover for waterfowl and other wildlife. The five-foot plant is topped with airy, rounded clusters of flowers that, in fall, take on a wooly appearance that resembles its other common names, cottongrass bulrush and teddybear paws. It's a true water lover that is usually found flourishing in wet meadows and swamps. When planted in groups, the sedges provide erosion control and also form a buffer against wind and water action, allowing other aquatic plants to grow in a challenging environment. 
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 4-5' and up to 6' tall.
 
Prefers full or part sun.
 
Prefers wet, silty or sandy soils or a few inches of standing water.
 
Greenish-brown flowers bloom in 6-12" spikelets between June and September. Fruits are yellow-gray to white achenes surrounded by long, red-brown bristles at maturity.
 
Green, grass-like leaves are smooth, flat, and up to ½" wide.
 
Wildlife Value:
Host plant for 11 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including 5 specialists (American crescent borer, dion skipper, meropleon diversicolor,  eyed brown, and Elachista enitescens braun) and lost owlet moth. Seeds eaten by waterfowl. Roots eaten by muskrats and geese. Provides cover for nesting birds.
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Woolgrass stems were woven to make matting and ropes. The fruiting tops of the plant were used to stuff pillows. The small rushes were used to make woven mats and storage bags.
 
Resources:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=sccy
 
USDA Plant Guide: https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_sccy.pdf
 
National Wildlife Federation: https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/Plants/2988