It is native to North America, especially the east and west sides.

It grows in wet habitat, such as rivers, lakesides, bogs, and swamps.

It is a rhizomatous perennial grass producing thick, erect to decumbent, sometimes matted stems which can easily exceed one meter in maximum length.

The inflorescence is a branching panicle up to 25 centimeters long by 12 wide containing compressed spikelets with up to 8 florets each.

There are three varieties of this grass which are distinguished by appearance and distribution.