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Juncus inflexus

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
JUN-kus in-FLEKS-us
Description

Hard rush is a rhizomatous perennial plant in Juncaceae (rush) family and is native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Hard rush grows in clumps with upright foliage and slowly spreads by rhizomes and seeds. The plant can grow up to 1.5 feet tall with mostly leafless blue-green stems. This plant may be slow to get started but once established can be divided as needed. in colder climates, it will die to the ground but in zones 7-9 it may be evergreen.

This plant does best in full sun with consistently moist to wet heavy soil with a pH that is alkaline to neutral. It is able to grow in boggy wet sites around ponds and streams but will also do well in containers and the garden, given enough moisture. Use in rain gardens, containers and boggy sites.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Arrows'
    Bluer stems
  • 'Blue Mohawk'
    Bluer stems
'Blue Arrows', 'Blue Mohawk'
Tags:
#rain garden#pond garden#rhizomatous#acidic soils tolerant#clumping#wet soils tolerant#rushes#sun#landscape plant sleuths course#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Arrows'
    Bluer stems
  • 'Blue Mohawk'
    Bluer stems
'Blue Arrows', 'Blue Mohawk'
Tags:
#rain garden#pond garden#rhizomatous#acidic soils tolerant#clumping#wet soils tolerant#rushes#sun#landscape plant sleuths course#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juncus
    Species:
    inflexus
    Family:
    Juncaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in basket weaving
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Temperate Europe, Asia, Africa and Micronesia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Beaked capsule forms after flowering
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of small reddish-brown flowers appear in late spring to mid-summer near the tips of the stems.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Linear green leaves at the base provide structure to the stems
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
    Stem Description:
    Blue-green stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Urban Conditions
    Wet Soil