Plant Guide

Other Names:  Soft Rush, Bog Rush, Mat Rush

Description:

A grass-like perennial featuring smooth, upright cylindrical stems that appear absent of leaves; grows in spreading clumps; well suited to aquatic containers and boggy, poorly drained areas; great water garden or pond accent; yellow fall color

Ornamental Features

Common Rush is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It features subtle cymes of chartreuse frilly flowers at the ends of the stems from early summer to early fall. Its attractive grassy leaves are green in color. The foliage often turns yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Common Rush is an open herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Common Rush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Common Rush will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.

Common Rush is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.