Juncus effusus f. spiralis 'Unicorn'

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Juncus effusus f. spiralis 'Unicorn'

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Kemper Code: Z200

Common Name: corkscrew rush
Zone: 4 to 9
Plant Type: Rush or Sedge
Family: Juncaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: June - August
Bloom Color: Yellowish-green to tan
Sun: Full sun
Water: Wet
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in wet soils, including standing water, in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best in full sun. Needs ample moisture and grows well in standing water up to about 4” deep. Plants are often slow to establish, but once established will slowly spread by creeping roots. Plant in containers sunk in the mud to control any possible spread.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

The hybrid rush is a grass-like, rhizomatous perennial that thrives in wet soils. It is one of the true rushes. ‘Unicorn’ is also known as corkscrew rush because it features a tuft of cylindrical, tightly-spiraled, corkscrew-like green stems (to 1/4” thick) which uncoil as they grow and spread out in all directions (both upward and prostrate). Clumps typically grow to 24” tall with a similar spread. Insignificant, tiny, yellowish green to pale brown flowers appear in compact clusters (cymes) at or slightly below the stem tips in summer. To some, spiral-type rushes are unique and interesting foliage plants whose corkscrew-like foliage provides texture and contrast to gardens. To others, the spiral-type rushes are little more than tangled masses of pond weed. De gustibus non est disputandum.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

May be grown at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas, among wet pebbles or rocks or in several inches of standing water. Good water garden accent. Adds a certain amount of authenticity to transitional waterside areas. May help control soil erosion on banks. Effective in containers. Corkscrew stems are sometimes cut for floral arrangements.