Juncus patens is a species of rush in the family Juncaceae. It is sometimes referred to by the common names spreading rush and California grey rush.Flora of North America: Juncus patens It is native to the West Coast of the United States from Washington to California, and into Baja California, Mexico.USDA It grows at seeps, springs, and riparian zones in stream beds and on river and pond banks, in marshes, and in other moist habitats.Encyclopedia of Life: Juncus patens; C.Michael Hogan ed. 2010.
Description Juncus patens is a perennial herb forming narrow, erect bunches of stems. It grows up to in height by in width.Las Pilitas Database: Juncus patens (Common Rush) It spreads by rhizomes, which can increase a colonies width substantially.
The stems are thin, gray-green, often somewhat waxy, and grooved, and grow in height.
The inflorescence sprouts from the side of the stem, rather than its tip. It holds many flowers, each of which has short, narrow, pointed tepals and six stamens. It flowers in the summer.
The fruit is a spherical red or brown capsule which fills and bulges from the dried flower remnants when mature. The seeds attract birds.
Cultivation Juncus patens is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in traditional and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping design, and in habitat restoration projects.California Natives Wiki: Juncus patens — Theodore Paune Foundation horticulture database.San Marcos Growers database: Juncus patens homepage Its tall narrow form fits into narrow garden beds and planters adjacent to walkway walls, and in container planting.Harlow, Nora and Kristin Jakob; Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots; Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA; University of California Press; 2003. Despite its moist habitat origins, it can be very drought-tolerant when established.Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien; California Native Plants for the Garden; Los Olivos, CA; Cachuma Press; 2005.
In sustainable gardening and sustainable landscaping, Juncus patens is used in rain gardens and phytoremediation swales and intermittent ponds.
Cultivars Cultivars of Juncus patens, selected for blue and/or gray foliage emphasis, include: Juncus patens 'Carman's Grey' — Carmen's California Gray Rush, steely blue-gray. Boething Treeland Farms: Juncus patens 'Carmen's Gray' Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' — Elk Blue California Gray Rush, blue-gray.San Marcos Growers database: Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue' — Occidental Blue California Gray Rush, gray-green.Annies Annuals database: Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue' (Blue Leaved Rush) Redding Water Smart Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue'
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment of 'Juncus patens Juncus patens — U.C. Photo gallery