Juncus effusus (Common Rush)
Common Rush, Soft Rush, Corkscrew Rush, Pin Rush, Sugar Grass, Bog Rush, Mat Rush
A good vertical accent plant, Juncus effusus (Common Rush) is a clump-forming, evergreen, rhizomatous perennial boasting smooth, upright, rounded, bright green stems that form arching fans. From late spring to summer, rounded heads of very small, greenish brown, scaly flowers emerge on the sides of the stems just below the stem tips. The foliage retains its color all year long in warm winter climates. In cold areas, it turns yellow in the fall before browning up for the winter. The strongly upright foliage of this species looks great in the water garden and provides a lovely background for other pond plants. Juncus effusus is considered to be a somewhat invasive weed in a number of locations.
- Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall and across (60-120 cm). This plant will spread in the landscape by rhizomes and by self-seeding.
- Performs best in full sun in moist to wet soils. While it thrives in consistently moist garden soil, it can also be planted in standing water to 4 in. deep (10 cm).
- This architectural grass is highly versatile. It may be grown at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas, in shallow water and may help control soil erosion on moist banks. Great for containers too.
- Requires very little care, is virtually disease-free, pest-free and provides year-round interest
- Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring.
- Propagate by division from mid-spring to early summer.
- Native to Eurasia, North America, Australia, New Zealand.