* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* photos of unknown internet source
Welcome to Randy Stewart Landscape Design blog, specializing in Horticulture / Landscape Design with 20 years experience. I hope to help you transform your home into a sustainable flourishing garden paradise. Enjoy scrolling through the plant profiles and Model Home Design Albums on the right side index.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Rushes
Juncus
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* photos of unknown internet source
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* photos of unknown internet source
Juncus effusus ( Common Rush )
A fast growing, stiffly-upright, clumping perennial, reaching up to 4 x 3 feet, with deep green spiky, evergreen stems. This extremely widespread plant may be of great ornamental value in some areas yet invasive in others. It is native to Alaska and most of Canada except for the Arctic. It is also native to most of the U.S. except the desert southwest, the southern Rockies and the Great Plains. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario regions; it was local and uncommon at Point Pelee and the Lake Erie Islands during the 1800s. It was abundant on the Ohio shore and at Detroit, Michigan during that time. The foliage is rich mid-green.
Hardy zones 2 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on moist to wet or swampy soils. It can tolerate up to 1 foot of water. Salt tolerant. It is deer resistant.
* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Oct 14 2013 in Harford Co., MD
* photos taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD
* photo taken on May 20 2014 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 24 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on July 7 2023 @ Bayfield, ON
* photos taken on May 31 2024 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on July 16 2024 in Columbia, MD
* excellent video found on Youtube
'Big Twister'
Coiled, twisted, rich-green stems reaching up to 2 feet in height.
Moderate growing.
* photo taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD
'Curly Wurly'
Coiled, twisted, rich-green stems reaching up to 1 foot in height.
'Unicorn'
Robust and ornamental, reaching up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet with corkscrew twisted, deep green stems.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.
Juncus inflexus ( European Meadow Rush )
Native to Europe, it has naturalized in parts of northeastern North America.
'Blue Arrow'
Moderate growing and strongly upright, reaching up to 3 x 2.5 feet in size.
The semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage is intensely bright blue to blue-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 10 in full sun on moist to wet soil thought it can tolerate temporary drought. Extremely heat tolerant.
* photo taken on June 1 2014 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 22 2014 in Howard Co., MD
* photos taken on Sep 2018 in Columbia, MD
Juncus patens ( Spreading Rush )
Native from Washington State to southern California. Fast growing, reaching up to 2 x 2 + feet.
'Carman's Gray'
Reaches up to 2 x 2 feet with very attractive intensely blue foliage.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 on moist to wet soil.
'Elk Blue'
Reaches up to 2 x 3 feet.
Juncus tenuis ( Path Rush )
Rhizomatous but is not invasive, reaching up to 1 x 1 foot. It is native from Ketchikan, Alaska to north-central, British Columbia to far northeast Alberta to Winnipeg, Manitoba to Ignace, Ontario to Lake Nipigon, Ontario to Hearst, Ontario to central Quebec to Labrador; south to Arizona to northern Florida. It is found on muddy shorelines or sandy banks. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it is noted as being common at Point Pelee, the Lake Erie Islands and the Ohio shoreline during the 1800s. It was also abundant at Detroit, Michigan during that time.
It makes a great groundcover between stepping stones.
Hardy zones 2 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.
* photo taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on July 16 2024 in Columbia, MD
Moor Grass
Molinia
Molinia caerulea
A cool-season, dense, clumping grass, native from Europe to western Siberia; south to northern Africa to the Middle East. In warmer parts of its range, it is usually found in mountain meadows. In the British Isles, it is found on heaths and bogs.
The foliage and flower height varies depending on variety, however the linear leaves are narrow, only up to 0.3 inches in width.
The flower panicles, up to 20 inches in length, are usually dark purple, ripening mid-summer and remaining attractive until mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, acidic to very acidic, light soils. Tolerant of wet conditions. It is often slow to establish. Propagation is from division or seed.
* photos taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
'Continuous Ray'
Also called 'Dauerstrahl'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2 x 4.8 ( rarely over 1 ) feet in size. The intense bright green foliage turns to glowing, golden-yellow during autumn.
The arching flower plumes up to 4.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.
'Cordoba'
Forms a long-lived clump up to 3.2 x 7 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with green foliage, that turns to glowing deep golden-yellow during late autumn.
The purple flower spikes, reaching up to 7.5 feet in height, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 18 inches in length.
'Heidebraut'
Also called 'Bride of the Heath'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2.4 x 5.7 feet, with green foliage that turns glowing deep golden-yellow during autumn.
The deep purple flower spikes, reaching a height up to 5 feet, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.
* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
'Moor Flame'
Forms a compact deep green foliage clump up to 2.3 x 5.8 ( rarely over 1.8 x 3 ) feet, with purplish flower plumes up to 4.7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.
The fine-textured deep green foliage turns to glowing orangish-red during autumn.
'Moorhexe'
Forms a foliage clump up to 1.7 x 4.6 feet. The foliage turns to golden-yellow or orange during autumn.
The deep purple flower plumes, up to 4 ( rarely over 3.3 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 10 inches in length.
'Source of Ray'
Also called 'Strahlenquelle'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 4 feet; with arching, heavy, large, purple flower plumes up to 4.2 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.
'Variegata' ( Variegated Purple Moor Grass )
Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 3 feet, with arching flower plumes up to 4 ( rarely over 3 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 7 inches in length.
The attractive foliage is striped yellow.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co., MD
Molina littoralis ( Tall Purple Moor Grass )
Hardy zones 4 to 8
'Fontaine'
Forms a foliage clump up to 4 x 5 ( often closer to 2 ) feet with gracefully-arching, purplish flower plumes up to 6 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 16 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow in autumn.
'Friend of the Mountain'
Also called 'Bergfreund'. Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.2 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with rich-colored, purplish flower plumes up to 5.7 ( rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 24 inches in lenght.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during autumn.
'Karl Foerster'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.5 feet with purplish flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 21 inches in length.
'Skyracer'
Stiffly upright, forming a gray-green foliage clump up to 3.5 ( often under 2.5 ) x 5.6 feet with showy golden-yellow flower plumes up to 9 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 18 inches in length.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow and orange during autumn.
* photos taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.
* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
'Staefa'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3.3 & 6.8 feet with abundant, finely-textured flower plumes up to 8.3 & rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 30 inches in length.
'Transparent'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5 with gracefully arching, large, purplish flower plumes up to 8 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 20 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during late autumn.
'Wind's Game'
Also called 'Windspiel'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2.8 & 6.7 feet with coppery to purplish-pink, upright flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 40 inches in length.
Molinia caerulea
A cool-season, dense, clumping grass, native from Europe to western Siberia; south to northern Africa to the Middle East. In warmer parts of its range, it is usually found in mountain meadows. In the British Isles, it is found on heaths and bogs.
The foliage and flower height varies depending on variety, however the linear leaves are narrow, only up to 0.3 inches in width.
The flower panicles, up to 20 inches in length, are usually dark purple, ripening mid-summer and remaining attractive until mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, acidic to very acidic, light soils. Tolerant of wet conditions. It is often slow to establish. Propagation is from division or seed.
* photos taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
'Continuous Ray'
Also called 'Dauerstrahl'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2 x 4.8 ( rarely over 1 ) feet in size. The intense bright green foliage turns to glowing, golden-yellow during autumn.
The arching flower plumes up to 4.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.
'Cordoba'
Forms a long-lived clump up to 3.2 x 7 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with green foliage, that turns to glowing deep golden-yellow during late autumn.
The purple flower spikes, reaching up to 7.5 feet in height, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 18 inches in length.
'Heidebraut'
Also called 'Bride of the Heath'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2.4 x 5.7 feet, with green foliage that turns glowing deep golden-yellow during autumn.
The deep purple flower spikes, reaching a height up to 5 feet, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.
* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
'Moor Flame'
Forms a compact deep green foliage clump up to 2.3 x 5.8 ( rarely over 1.8 x 3 ) feet, with purplish flower plumes up to 4.7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.
The fine-textured deep green foliage turns to glowing orangish-red during autumn.
'Moorhexe'
Forms a foliage clump up to 1.7 x 4.6 feet. The foliage turns to golden-yellow or orange during autumn.
The deep purple flower plumes, up to 4 ( rarely over 3.3 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 10 inches in length.
'Source of Ray'
Also called 'Strahlenquelle'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 4 feet; with arching, heavy, large, purple flower plumes up to 4.2 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.
'Variegata' ( Variegated Purple Moor Grass )
Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 3 feet, with arching flower plumes up to 4 ( rarely over 3 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 7 inches in length.
The attractive foliage is striped yellow.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co., MD
Molina littoralis ( Tall Purple Moor Grass )
Hardy zones 4 to 8
'Fontaine'
Forms a foliage clump up to 4 x 5 ( often closer to 2 ) feet with gracefully-arching, purplish flower plumes up to 6 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 16 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow in autumn.
'Friend of the Mountain'
Also called 'Bergfreund'. Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.2 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with rich-colored, purplish flower plumes up to 5.7 ( rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 24 inches in lenght.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during autumn.
'Karl Foerster'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.5 feet with purplish flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 21 inches in length.
'Skyracer'
Stiffly upright, forming a gray-green foliage clump up to 3.5 ( often under 2.5 ) x 5.6 feet with showy golden-yellow flower plumes up to 9 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 18 inches in length.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow and orange during autumn.
* photos taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.
* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
'Staefa'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3.3 & 6.8 feet with abundant, finely-textured flower plumes up to 8.3 & rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 30 inches in length.
'Transparent'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5 with gracefully arching, large, purplish flower plumes up to 8 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 20 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during late autumn.
'Wind's Game'
Also called 'Windspiel'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2.8 & 6.7 feet with coppery to purplish-pink, upright flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 40 inches in length.
Wood Rush
Luzula
Luzula luzuloides
A fast spreading to invasive, dense, rhizomatous groundcover grass, reaching a maximum height of 32 inches.
The leaf blades are up to 22 inches in length.
The creamy-white flowers are borne on clusters from early to mid summer.
They are followed by attractive seed heads.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on just about any soil. It is dry shade tolerant. It is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
Luzula nivea 'Ruby Stiletto'
A vigorous, compact, clumping, semi-evegreen to evergreen, perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 2 feet. The species is native to subalpine forests in the mountains of central Europe form northern France; south to central Italy and Yugoslavia.
The fine-textured grayish leaves, up to 12 inches long, are tipped and edged red, with the color intensifying during winter into early spring.
The flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial shade on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil. It is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
Luzula sylvatica ( Greater Wood Rush )
A beaufiful, dense, strongly rhizomatous, semi-evergreen perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3.5 feet, that is a widespread native to woodlands from Europe to the Caucasus & Turkey.
Greater Wood Rush makes a great woodland groundcover for colder climates. The foliage is luxuriant mid-green. The leaf blades are up to 0.5 inches wide.
The flower stems are up to 3 feet high.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, humus-rich soil. It is drought and tree root tolerant. Greater Wood Rush is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
* photo taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario
'Aurea'
Glossy yellow foliage; otherwise identical to species.
'Variegata' ( Banded Greater Wood Rush )
Foliage variegated with golden-yellow margins.
Luzula luzuloides
A fast spreading to invasive, dense, rhizomatous groundcover grass, reaching a maximum height of 32 inches.
The leaf blades are up to 22 inches in length.
The creamy-white flowers are borne on clusters from early to mid summer.
They are followed by attractive seed heads.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on just about any soil. It is dry shade tolerant. It is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
Luzula nivea 'Ruby Stiletto'
A vigorous, compact, clumping, semi-evegreen to evergreen, perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 2 feet. The species is native to subalpine forests in the mountains of central Europe form northern France; south to central Italy and Yugoslavia.
The fine-textured grayish leaves, up to 12 inches long, are tipped and edged red, with the color intensifying during winter into early spring.
The flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial shade on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil. It is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
Luzula sylvatica ( Greater Wood Rush )
A beaufiful, dense, strongly rhizomatous, semi-evergreen perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3.5 feet, that is a widespread native to woodlands from Europe to the Caucasus & Turkey.
Greater Wood Rush makes a great woodland groundcover for colder climates. The foliage is luxuriant mid-green. The leaf blades are up to 0.5 inches wide.
The flower stems are up to 3 feet high.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, humus-rich soil. It is drought and tree root tolerant. Greater Wood Rush is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
* photo taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario
'Aurea'
Glossy yellow foliage; otherwise identical to species.
'Variegata' ( Banded Greater Wood Rush )
Foliage variegated with golden-yellow margins.
Love Grass
Eragrostis ( Love Grass )
A group of perennial grasses that are great for massing, that prefer full sun.
Eragrostis elliottii ( Field Love Grass )
A fast growing, compact, clump-forming grass, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, that is native to the southeastern U.S. ( from Oklahoma to North Carolina; south to southern Florida )
The attractive finely-textured foliage is blue. Typically deciduous, it is usually evergreen in southern Florida.
The flower plumes last early summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on dry, very well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant. Cut back during winter.
* featured in this excellent video found on Youtube
'Wind Dancer'
Reaches up to 4 x 3 feet, with narrow intensely blue-gray to blue-green foliage.
The flower panicles during early summer are white, later drying to tan.
Hardy zones 6 to 9.
Eragrostis spectabilis ( Purple Love Grass )
A fast growing, densely clumping perennial grass, reaching up to 2.5 x 3 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, that is native to much of North America ( from southeast Wyoming to southern Manitoba to central Wisconsin to central Michigan to southeast Quebec to Maine; south to Arizona to Florida ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it only remains at the Ojibway Prairie in Windsor. It is usually found on dry open sandy prairie and oak-savanna in the wild.
The bright green foliage turns orange and red during fall.
Fluffy pink flower plumes cover the plant during mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( possibly 3 for northern Minnesota seed source ) in full sun on well drained soil that is preferrably sandy.. It generally does not survive for more than 5 years ( unless in ideal conditions and uncrowded ) to allow a few seedlings to develop. Very drought tolerant.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD
* photos taken on Sep 18 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD
* photo taken on Oct 15 2016 in Annapolis, MD
* photos taken on July 20 2024 in Columbia, MD
Eragrostis trichodes ( Sand Love Grass )
A moderate growing perennial grass, reaching up to 5 feet with bronze colored flower inflorescences, It is native to grasslands if central North America ( from southeast Wyoming to central South Dakota to central Iowa to northwest Indiana; south to southern Arizona to southern Texas to central Alabama ). It is endangered in much of its range due to destruction of natural prairie, Sand Love Grass has become extremely rare and localized in South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on very well drained soil. Very tolerant of heat and drought.
'Cochise'
text coming soon
* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.
'Mason'
text coming soon
* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.
A group of perennial grasses that are great for massing, that prefer full sun.
Eragrostis elliottii ( Field Love Grass )
A fast growing, compact, clump-forming grass, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, that is native to the southeastern U.S. ( from Oklahoma to North Carolina; south to southern Florida )
The attractive finely-textured foliage is blue. Typically deciduous, it is usually evergreen in southern Florida.
The flower plumes last early summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on dry, very well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant. Cut back during winter.
* featured in this excellent video found on Youtube
'Wind Dancer'
Reaches up to 4 x 3 feet, with narrow intensely blue-gray to blue-green foliage.
The flower panicles during early summer are white, later drying to tan.
Hardy zones 6 to 9.
Eragrostis spectabilis ( Purple Love Grass )
A fast growing, densely clumping perennial grass, reaching up to 2.5 x 3 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, that is native to much of North America ( from southeast Wyoming to southern Manitoba to central Wisconsin to central Michigan to southeast Quebec to Maine; south to Arizona to Florida ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it only remains at the Ojibway Prairie in Windsor. It is usually found on dry open sandy prairie and oak-savanna in the wild.
The bright green foliage turns orange and red during fall.
Fluffy pink flower plumes cover the plant during mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( possibly 3 for northern Minnesota seed source ) in full sun on well drained soil that is preferrably sandy.. It generally does not survive for more than 5 years ( unless in ideal conditions and uncrowded ) to allow a few seedlings to develop. Very drought tolerant.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD
* photos taken on Sep 18 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD
* photo taken on Oct 15 2016 in Annapolis, MD
* photos taken on July 20 2024 in Columbia, MD
Eragrostis trichodes ( Sand Love Grass )
A moderate growing perennial grass, reaching up to 5 feet with bronze colored flower inflorescences, It is native to grasslands if central North America ( from southeast Wyoming to central South Dakota to central Iowa to northwest Indiana; south to southern Arizona to southern Texas to central Alabama ). It is endangered in much of its range due to destruction of natural prairie, Sand Love Grass has become extremely rare and localized in South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on very well drained soil. Very tolerant of heat and drought.
'Cochise'
text coming soon
* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.
'Mason'
text coming soon
* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.
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