type : Perennials
sun exposure : Full Sun, Partial Shade
water : Ample Water
planting zones : US (Upper South) / Zone 6, MS (Middle South) / Zone 7, LS (Lower South) / Zone 8, CS (Coastal South) / Zone 9
Plant Details
Rushes somewhat resemble grasses, with leaflike, cylindrical stems and tiny, inconspicuous flowers clustered near stem tips. Some have a rigid, upright habit; stems of others are twisted into spirals. Specialists usually suggest planting them with grasses or aquatic plants at the edge of a pond or stream, in water, or among stones and pebbles.
soft rush
juncus effusus
- Native to many temperate regions of the world.
- To 2 feet high and wide.
- Medium green stems are erect, arching somewhat toward tips.
- Stems turn brown with frost.
- Juncus e spiralis and its selections 'Twister' and 'Unicorn' have corkscrew foliage.
hard rush
juncus inflexus
- Native to many parts of the world.
- Upright, blue-gray stems form a clump to 2 feet tall, 2 feet wide.
- Afro grows to 11 feet tall and 2 feet wide; with coiled stems.
- Lovesick Blues forms a striking 3 feet mound of steely blue stems.
california gray rush
juncus patens
- Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
- Native to California and Oregon.
- To 2 feet high and wide, with stiffly upright green or gray-green stems.
- Tolerates more heat and drought than Juncus effusus but thrives best in moist soil or even shallow water.
- Gray-green 'Carman's Gray' and blue-gray 'Elk Blue' are good selections.