Cotton Grass Eriophorum latifolium

This perennial cottongrass common name is misleading as it is a sedge and not a grass. Sedges have shallow triangular shaped, in cross-section, long leaves that are not flat like grass leaves. The latifolium species may be difficult to find in North Carolina but is quite similar to most of the other cottongrass Eriophorum species and especially similar to Eriophorum angustifolium. While its common name is Broad Leaved Cotton Grass, the leaf is just slightly wider and flatter than the E. angustifolium. The leaf is about 8 mm or slightly wider. The plant name prefixes "augusti" and "lati" are Latin for narrow and broad leaved, in this case. However, the latifolium is barely wider than the augustifolium.  The name Eriophorum is greek for "wool bearing".

The following content is the same as on the Eriophorum augustifolium site as these two sedges' growth habits are similar.  

This perennial sedge is not native to the mid-Atlantic region beginning with Pennsylvania south and also not throughout the southern tier of states.  The plant grows in its native areas (northern tier of U.S. and Siberia) in wet areas such as marshlands, boggy areas, and in very shallow waters, including wet ditches. It can also grow in predominantly wet soil adjacent to ponds and rivers.  It prefers an acidic pH soil, likes peat but also grows in sandy or clay soil and in sun to partial shade. 

It can adapt to its less than native conditions if attention is given to its location, water, soil, and nutrient needs.

The plant can be grown in pots or garden water features in about 2 to 3 inches of standing water. This sedge plant is usually about 12 inches tall though it can grow up to 2 to 3 feet in some areas of the country. It reproduces through both seeds and root spread.

This sedge plant is usually about 12 inches tall though it can grow up to 2 to 3 feet. It reproduces through both seeds and root spread. It has angular, v-shaped leaves and tassels of white, cotton colored flowers on leafy stems. To avoid the plant spreading, the seeds must be removed before maturity when wind spreads them, and the plant roots divided every two years or so.

Cottongrasses are often self-pollinating because the flowers are "perfect", meaning each contains both male (stamen) and female (carpel) reproductive) parts. Some are wind-pollinated.