2 to 4 feet tall. Leaves long, flat, grass-like, about 10 inches long, often indented along the central vein. Leaves generally arching. Flowers reddish brown, in a loose, terminal cluster, composed of smaller clusters on nodding stalks. Inflorescence has about 3 leaf-like bracts beneath it, very narrow, of variable length. Ultimate clusters (spikelets) oblong, bristly,on nodding stalklets, composed of many flowers with overlapping scales. Blooms in summer.

Native plant of moist to wet places, but also invades woodlands if not too dry. Likes sun to part shade. Fairly common in the Park in ditches and wetlands.

Despite the name, bulrushes are sedges, not rushes. Green bulrush has a much more compact cluster of flowers.