Hard Rush Juncus inflexus
Other Common Name(s):
- Description
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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:
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- 'Blue Arrows'
Bluer stems - 'Blue Mohawk'
Bluer stems
- 'Blue Arrows'
- 'Blue Arrows', 'Blue Mohawk'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Arrows'
Bluer stems - 'Blue Mohawk'
Bluer stems
- 'Blue Arrows'
- 'Blue Arrows', 'Blue Mohawk'
- Tags:
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-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Beaked capsule forms after flowering
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-
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.
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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
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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
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Urban Conditions
- Wet Soil
