With its upright growth habit and distinctive flowering stems, Common Rush (Juncus patens) is a grass-like evergreen perennial that adds visual interest to the garden. Common Rush is native to wet, marshy areas of California. It is also found in Oregon and Washington.
The tall, wire-like stems are gray-green in color and grow in clumps that can slowly spread over time.
Common Rush has small golden flower clusters that bloom along the stems, rather than at the tips. After flowering, the plant develops bunches of spherical red fruits.
Common Rush is normally found in areas that are moist year-round, but it is a tough plant that can also grow in areas that are seasonally dry. In the garden, it can be planted near water features but it also does well in dry areas with minimal summer irrigation. Common Rush is often used in lawn replacement applications, where its tall, rigid stems complement low-growing groundcover plants.