Poaceae
Water whorl-grass
Catabrosa aquatica
Also known as Whorl-grass, Water grass, Catabrosa, Catabrosa aquatica subsp. capusii
Zones 3–10Sun Partial SunWater ModerateCare Moderate
Native Plants · Aquatic · Grass · Wetland · Bog · Pond · Marginal · Perennial · Cool-Season · Streamside · Native
Pet-safeAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Water whorl-grass thrives in shallow water or perpetually wet soil and is best suited to pond margins, bog gardens, or stream edges. It prefers full sun to partial shade and should never be allowed to dry out. This grass is primarily a specialist plant for water feature enthusiasts rather than typical home gardens.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Maintain standing water or saturated soil at all times · Keep soil consistently moist or waterlogged; do not allow to dry out
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Hardiness
USDA 3a-10b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Chile South, China North-Central, China South-Central, Chita
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle
Buy this plant
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No nursery lists Water whorl-grass right now.