Future Plants by Randy Stewart: Rushes

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Rushes

Juncus

* 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