summary of tallgrass prairie rushes & sedges

on reconstructed wetlands

All of the species noted below remove Nitrogen (N₂) and phosphorus (P) from water. However, not all of those plants play nice in the sandbox, as it were.

excellent choice:

cosmopolitan bulrush, Schoenoplectus maritimus

green bulrush, Scirpus atrovirens Willd.

hardstem bulrush, Schoenoplectus acutus

panicled bulrush, Scirpus microcarpus

river bulrush, Schoenoplectus fluviatilis

slender bulrush, Schoenoplectus heterochaetus

Smith's bulrush, Schoenoplectus smithii

softstem bulrush, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

threesquare bulrush, Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl) Palla

woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth

baltic rush, Juncus balticus Willd.

Torrey's rush, Schoenoplectus Torreyi

good choice:

woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth

The species noted above do not take over areas where they are growing, have few stems/square foot (hence don't clog ditches), and provide food and habitat for a diversity of wetland fauna.

poor choice

common cattail, Typha latifolia

While Typha species — common cattail, Typha latifolia and narrowleaf cattail, Typha angustifolia L. — remove excess nutrients from water they are also capable of growing in dense monocultures, especially in disturbed habitats where populations respond by spreading vegetatively at rapid rates. Typha stands increase silting, obstruct travel, hinder fishing, and recreational activities, and offer breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Ecological impacts include closing of open water areas, eliminating habitat and species diversity, and reducing and replacing native plants. Typha stands can dominate shorelines and wetlands and replace native plants important for waterfowl and wildlife.
Source: Narrowleaved and Hybrid Cattail - Invasive Plants Found in Manitoba