Rhynchospora latifolia

Common Names

Broadleaf Whitetop Sedge, Sandswamp Whitetop Sedge, Giant Whitetop Sedge

Summary

Rhynchospora latifolia is a perennial sedge native to the Southeastern United States, forming a grass-like, clump-forming habit that rises about 1–3 ft tall (30–90 cm). A distinctive feature is a terminal head-like inflorescence subtended by 7–10 bright white involucral bracts, creating showy white visuals atop slender, linear leaves, with the plant spreading by scaly rhizomes and thriving in wet habitats such as bogs, marshes, and wet pine savannas. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and moist, acidic sandy or peaty soils, tolerating wet to moist conditions but not inundation by salty water. Propagation is practical by division, and uses include bog gardens, shallow water gardens, and landscapes such as stormwater wetlands, bioretention features, and container gardens; it is hardy in USDA zones 7a–10b.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

1.5-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic soil (sandy or peaty)

Soil Drainage

Wet, poorly drained soils

Soil pH

Acidic soil, pH below 6.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators