Common rush (Juncus usitatus)

When it flowers

January, flowering
February, flowering
March, not flowering
April, not flowering
May, not flowering
June, not flowering
July, not flowering
August, not flowering
September, not flowering
October, flowering
November, flowering
December, flowering

Juncus usitatus forms dense tussocks and have green adult stems. Yass River bed, Gundaroo NSW Australia, April 2009.. Photo: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Juncus usitatus. Photo: Doug Beckers, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Common rush (Juncus usitatus) is densely tufted 50-80 cm tall. Yass River bed, Gundaroo NSW Australia, April 2009.. Photo: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Upright rush with fine, green stems, for pond edges, rain gardens and wet swales.

A clumping rush of wet places across much of Australia. Its fine, round, upright stems give a vertical accent at pond edges, and it copes with both standing water and dry spells once established.

In the garden

Mass planting
Banks and slopes
Pond and bog edges

Leaves: Fine, round, upright green stems.
Attracts: Shelter for small wildlife
Flowers: Small brownish flower clusters near the stem tips.

Growing conditions

Climate: Tropical, subtropical and temperate
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Sandy, loam and clay
Drainage: Copes with waterlogging
Frost: Moderate frost
Water: Some dry spells

Planting and care

Grown from: Seed and division

Planting

Full sun or part shade in wet soil or shallow water. Space 50 cm apart.

Pruning

Cut back old, brown stems in late winter.

Care

Keep moist. No feeding needed.

Where it comes from

Family: Juncaceae
Order: Poales
Native to: New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia
Natural range: Swamps, creek banks and damp ground across much of mainland Australia.

Specialist native nurseries.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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Common rush Juncus usitatus