Bolboschoenus maritimus can be grown in most soils as long as they are kept quite wet. This is an excellent plant for a wetland garden or at the edge of a pond. It can also be planted in shallow water. As this sedge can withstand alkaline and saline conditions, it is ideal for a coastal garden where many other plants won't survive.

Plant the corms/rhizomes about 20 cm below the soil surface in a sunny position. Plant Bolboschoenus alongside other sedges such as Juncus kraussii and Scirpus nodosus and restios such as Chondropetalum nudum.

Young healthy plants can be lifted and the rhizomes divided into sections. Care must be taken that at least one viable bud is kept on each section. Larger divisions can be transplanted immediately into their new locations. Smaller divisions should be potted up and grown in a lightly shaded position until established.

To grow these plants from seed, collect seed in late summer to autumn. The seeds are held quite tightly in the seed head giving the collector quite a bit of leeway. Collect the seeds by hand, stripping the spikelets from the plant. In North America and the UK seeds are pre-chilled for 30 days at 1-3ºC in a mixture of sphagnum moss and distilled water. This may not be necessary in all areas.

Sow the seed in a pot standing in 3 cm of water. Press the seed into the soil to ensure good contact but do not cover, as these seeds require light to germinate. Place in a cold frame and keep moist. Ideal germination temperatures are 25-35ºC during the day dropping about 5ºC lower at night.

Germination should take place after one to two weeks. Keep the small plants moist until they are ready to transplant. They can then be pricked out into larger pots.