Club rush Schoenoplectus lacustris
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
- Scirpus lacustris
- Phonetic Spelling
- skee-no-PLEK-tus lak-US-triss
- Description
-
Club rusn is an ornamental, evergreen, perennial grass in the sedge family, often found at the margins of wetlands, with rush-like stems growing to a mature height of 8 feet. The plant forms clumps with a width of 4 feet that slowly spread. The plant produces brown flowers at the tips of the stems and leaves that will turn brown in the fall. The genus name means pertaining to lakes. The species name honors Jakob Theodor von Bergzabern, a sixteenth century botanist who latinized his name to Tabernaemontanus.
Club rush does best in full sun and wet, mucky soil, but will tolerate partial shade. You should plant the grass in shallow, standing water, up to 6 inches deep, or grow in 2 to 5 gallon submerged containers. It would also do well sited at the edge of a pond or stream.
Club rush has a clumping habit and can be propagated by division of the clumps in the spring. The vigorous root system will also spread and form colonies by means of creeping rhizomes. It can be pruned to control spread.
Club rush is a water plant and would do well in a rain garden or similar wet environment.
Clemson Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on water and bog plants, including Schoenoplectus lacustris.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Zebrinus
Variagated with ellow bands on foliage. Less vigorous. Leafless green stems with horizontal bands.
- Zebrinus
- Zebrinus
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Zebrinus
Variagated with ellow bands on foliage. Less vigorous. Leafless green stems with horizontal bands.
- Zebrinus
- Zebrinus
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schoenoplectus
- Species:
- lacustris
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Stems are used for matting, chair bottoms, and thatching.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Mediteranean east to Mongolia, Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- 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:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds ripen in August and September.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Very small, brown flowers appear in spikelets at the tips of 5 foot stems in late summer into fall.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are bladeless sheaths around the stem, but blades up to 39 inches long can be formed under water. Leaves turn brown in fall.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Round, solid, green stems.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Pollution
