Juncus effusus 'Spiralis'

Corkscrew Rush is an easy to grow ornamental rush form of Juncus effusus with interesting twisted stems. This wetland perennial grass is a rush or sedge found in bogs, marshes, and swamps and is native over large portions of temperate climates of the world.  Varieties can be found throughout the United States except for South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah.  These plants are located in almost every county in North Carolina. 

'Sparilis' has no leaves, but the stems are attractive, corkscrews which are both upright and prostrate, cylindrical, green, and smooth.   They grow into a mass to form a clump 12 - 18 inches in height and equal spread.  The late summer-blooming flowers are yellowish-green to brown in many-flowered cymes with an obovoid capsule following as fruit. 

It can grow with  1 to 6 inches of water over the crown and works well in containers of 2 gallons or larger.   They prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade.  They require consistently moist soil and they grow well in pots and as houseplants.   

Spreading and propagation are by division of the rhizomes and self-seeding which can be difficult to manage.  Planting the rhizomes in in-ground pots with the lip above ground can help limit the spread.  In zones with warm winters they can remain evergreen.  In cooler climes, the foliage becomes yellow, then brown in fall to winter dying back to the ground. 

This variety is more conducive to being a specimen plant than the straight stemmed variety and can be a graceful addition to patios or ponds.

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