General Landscape Uses:
Water gardens and along pond and lake edges.
Availability:
Native plant nurseries.
Description: Medium to large herbaceous rush.
Dimensions: 2-4 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in much of North America south to Martin and Collier counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Freshwater marshes.
Soils: Wet, poorly-drained sandy or organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Greenish inflorescence; brown when mature.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food and cover for wildlife.
References: Nelson 2003
Comments: Imperiled and sporadic in South Florida, but more common in the rest of the state.
