This plant is seen throughout Wales, Ireland and Scotland but is less common in southern and central England perhaps because it prefers high heaths and bogs. In late summer the high moors of Northern England can turn white with cottongrass.

The difference between this one and the other common cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare's-tail Cottongrass) is E. angustifolium one has many flowering tufts and E. vaginatum only has one.

Boggy ground Cwm Idwal 7th June 2005

Added on October 27th 2005, updated 7th January 2009, updated 29th March 2010