Photo: Matt BergerCC BY 4.0via PlantoScanresized / cropped
Tufted Club-rush Plant Care
Trichophorum cespitosum (L.) Hartm.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Trichophorum cespitosum, commonly known as deergrass or tufted bulrush, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family. It was originally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Scirpus cespitosus, but was transferred to the genus Trichophorum by the Swedish botanist Carl Johan Hartman in 1849, becoming Trichophorum cespitosum.
Every 3–5 days
Full sun to part shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Tufted Club-rush?
Water Tufted Club-rush every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to part shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Tufted Club-rush?
Tufted Club-rush (Trichophorum cespitosum) belongs to the Cyperaceae family within the Trichophorum genus. Tufted Club-rush is also known as Deergrass, Cotton Grass.
Tufted Club-rush displays a grass-like perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Tufted Club-rush produces small, inconspicuous flowers in spikelets.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Tufted Club-rush?
Trichophorum cespitosum requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Tufted Club-rush Need?
Tufted Club-rush thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Tufted Club-rush Prefer?
Trichophorum cespitosum grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Tufted Club-rush prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Tufted Club-rush?
Moist, acidic soil with good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Tufted Club-rush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Tufted Club-rush?
Feed Tufted Club-rush every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Tufted Club-rush?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Tufted Club-rush?
Tufted Club-rush can be propagated through division, seed sowing. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alpine club-rush plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Tufted Club-rush Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Tufted Club-rush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Tufted Club-rush?
Tufted Club-rush is susceptible to sedges, grasshoppers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Tufted Club-rush Need?
Tufted Club-rush grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Tufted Club-rush as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Tufted Club-rush is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Trichophorum genus — compare its care with other Trichophorum species on PlantoScan.
Trichophorum is part of the Cyperaceae plant family — browse all Cyperaceae genera and species.
Tufted Club-rush thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Trichophorum cespitosum (L.) Hartm., family Cyperaceae (first published in Handb. Skand. Fl. [ed. 5] 259. 1849) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Tufted Club-rush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Matt Berger, CC BY 4.0, PlantoScan — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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