At the beginning of the flowering period in March or April, cotton grass does not live up to its name. Only as the growth progresses do the fragrant, white flower heads appear. In fact, it is a fruit decoration that guarantees a long-lasting ornamental value. Read here why this is so.
The white woolly balls are not the flowers but the hairs of the seeds
Blossoms are just preliminary floral skirmishes
When the cotton grass flowers start blooming in March/April, white, inconspicuous spikelets with a length of 1.5 to 2.5 cm thrive. Far and wide there is nothing to be seen of the characteristic appearance to which the ornamental grass owes its name. That changes in the course of May and June. Countless, silky white filaments sprout from the perianths. These reach a length of up to 5 cm and form the characteristic tufts of wool.
Until the fruit ripens in June, the wool hairs remain on the seed pods and, as flying machines, ensure that the seed is spread over a wide area. In favorable weather conditions, the spectacle is repeated in September.