Plants for the Damp Garden - Rushes and Flags

Rushes and sweet flags are plants who demand moist or wet soil, so they are perfect for damp gardens..

Rushes

"Sedges have edges and rushes are round...". The round stem scan on the right is typical of most rushes, although there are some who have flat leaves, like Luzula, the woodrush. This contrast in stem form is one of the best ways to differentiate between sedges and rushes. Many rushes have barely discernible leaves; what appears to be stem is actually a sheath that is part of a leaf that surrounds the stem. The sheath becomes a blade at the point where the inflorescence emerges. While the stem (culm) appears to be smooth when you touch it, it actually has minute ridges or striations. If you squint hard at the scan, you can just about make them out.

Rushes, members of the Juncus family, Juncaceae, are common inhabitants of wet places all over the world, from coastal to alpine and tropical to arid habitats. There are about three hundred species throughout the world. Some are evergreen, while others go dormant with the first frost. Rushes can be found in sun or shade and fresh or salt water and some even tolerate seasonal drought.

Color ranges from various shades of green through gray and size can vary from miniatures of six inches (15 cm) to giants of six feet (1.8 m). Some rushes have attractive flowers and foliage for use in fresh or dried arrangements.

Rushes are excellent for stabilizing stream banks, many providing good habitat for birds and other small animals. In smaller gardens, they grow quite well in tubs and small ponds.

Man has used rushes for centuries to make baskets, boats, houses and other practical items for every day use. Unfortunately, much of the original wetlands that are home to rushes have been destroyed or are threatened.

Juncus effusus, the soft rush, is the only one I have at present. A net buddy sent a division to me a couple of years ago and I stuck it in the damp garden, where it seems quite happy. The blue toned, mostly vertical foliage makes a very nice contrast with the huge cabbage-like leaves of the candelabra primroses.

This is one of the most common rushes found in a variety of freshwater wetlands from Newfoundland to Texas and throughout much of North America. It prefers marshes and seeps where it is most frequently found in dense tussocks or clumps. It will grow in shallow water or moist, boggy soil, preferring light shade or part-day sun, especially in hot climates. It's also suitable for container gardening. It reaches between eighteen inches and thirty inches tall (45 - 76 cm) and is rated hardy from USDA zones 4 to 9..

Go To Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7