Species › Plants › Hardstem Bulrush

Hardstem Bulrush

Schoenoplectus acutus

CommonPlant
Illustration of Hardstem Bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus)

Hardstem Bulrush is a large, emergent wetland plant of ponds, marshes, and lake margins across North America, forming dense stands of tall, round green stems. It is one of the most important wetland plants for wildlife, providing nesting habitat for red-winged blackbirds, wrens, and bitterns, as well as cover and food for muskrats, coots, and ducks.

Habitat
Ponds, marshes, and lake margins across North America
Diet
Seeds eaten by ducks and coots; stems used by muskrats; nesting for marsh birds
How common
Common

Best time to see a Hardstem Bulrush

The best time to see a Hardstem Bulrush is April–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 881 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Hardstem Bulrush? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Hardstem Bulrush sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Hardstem Bulrush?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More plants

Harebell
Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Hay-scented Fern
Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Hazel Alder
Hazel Alder
Alnus serrulata
Heartleaf Golden Alexander
Heartleaf Golden Alexander
Zizia aptera
Heartleaf Nettle
Heartleaf Nettle
Urtica chamaedryoides
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Hedge Bindweed
Hedge Bindweed
Calystegia sepium
Hedgehog Cactus
Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii