Species Sturdy Bulrush
orange-peach flowers with yellow-green leaves and stems

Sturdy Bulrush

Bolboschoenus robustus

Sturdy Bulrush is a robust, evergreen aquatic plant with strong, thick stems and long sword-shaped leaves that provide an exceptional ornamental appearance. Growing up to four feet tall, the plant produces large, dense clusters of flowers. Its unique reddish-brown flower heads offer an attractive contrast with its light green foliage. The rhizomes found near the base protrude from the water, creating new plants in the process. Sturdy Bulrush is an easy-to-grow plant that can serve a variety of environmental purposes. It can be used to create visual barriers, provide erosion control, maintain water quality, and offer food and habitat for aquatic wildlife.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,tan,black Fruits Ready In Fall

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Sturdy Bulrush (Bolboschoenus robustus) plants once or twice a week. Amount of water applied should depend on the weather, with more being applied during hot and dry periods. Sturdy Bulrush prefers consistently damp but not soggy soil and may need more watering in the hot summer months. When watering, apply 1-2 inches of water (about 2 cupfuls of water). Allow water to thoroughly soak the entire root zone. If you are unsure about whether the soil has been saturated, you can check by sticking your finger into the soil. If it feels dry, add more water until the soil is slightly moist.

sunlight

Sturdy Bulrush (Bolboschoenus robustus) prefers to be in full, direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day. The ideal timeframe for sunlight exposure is in the morning when the sun is not too hot, and then again in the evenings when the sun is lower in the sky. During the summer months, Sturdy Bulrush can also tolerate some partial shade, but full sun is its preferred state. Lastly, Sturdy Bulrush should not be placed in areas with long hours of direct, blazing sunlight as this can cause the plant to become scorched and wilted.

pruning

Sturdy Bulrush (Bolboschoenus robustus) should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Prune off spent seed heads and any shoots that do not have the desired upright form of the plant. Prune heavily to control the size and shape of the plant, cutting approximately 1-third of the stems to the ground and selectively removing or shortening other stems to maintain an even, neat growth habit. Prune only the stems when the plant is actively growing and can quickly and easily replace the removed stems.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Bolboschoenus robustus, or Sturdy Bulrush, typically begins in July and continues through September.

Starts Flowering

Sturdy Bulrush typically starts flowering in June.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Bolboschoenus robustus, or Sturdy Bulrush, typically begins in July and continues through September.