Grasses - Sedges, Rushes

Plant family

Sedge family (Cyperaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Light germinator

Germination temperature

15 – 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

50 cm

Row spacing

50 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm

Instructions

Description

Sedges (Scirpus) are vigorous grasses within the sedge family (Cyperaceae). Scirpus are perennial herbaceous grasses that usually grow in clumps. Depending on the species and variety, they grow to a height of between 40 and 200 centimetres. The sill is characterized by its loose growth so that the water where it grows can shine through between the leaves. The flat stems are usually triangular and stand together in a basal rosette. Dense to slightly branched panicles with brown to reddish-brown inflorescences of small spikelets appear in the leaf axils between May and August. After flowering, small achenes form. The species-rich genus of rushes (Juncus) forms the rush family (Juncaceae) together with the woodrushes (Luzula). Rushes are often also assigned to the acid grass family (Cyperaceae). Rushes often have a creeping root system and form dense, turf-like clumps. While the dwarf rush (Juncus ensifolius) only grows to a height of around 20 to 30 centimetres, the spreading rush (Juncus effusus) can grow up to 80 centimetres high. Many members of the Juncus genus are evergreen. Like the stems, the leaves are tubular or completely absent. Photosynthesis then takes place directly in the green leaves of the stems. Their tiny flowers, grouped in spirals or panicles, seem to emerge directly from the stem just below the tip, but are often supported by a supporting leaf. Most rush species flower in summer and can be easily distinguished by their roundish fruits.

Growing tips

The wood sedge requires a sunny to semi-shady location. The wood sedge (Scirpus sylvaticus) also thrives in the shade. A nutrient-rich, loamy-humic and slightly acidic substrate is ideal for most species. All sillies can be planted at a water depth of between 10 and 30 centimetres, sometimes also on dry land. Sillies are best planted in spring. They come into their own in groups. To prevent runners from forming in smaller gardens, you should plant them in baskets or sunken containers. In the right location, no further care measures are usually necessary. If the soil dries out during longer dry periods, you should water the woodrush thoroughly. You can divide the grasses in spring. This is even advisable in the case of zebra sedge (Scirpus lacustris ssp. tabernaemontani 'Zebrinus'). Otherwise it will begin to turn green over time and lose its attractive leaf pattern. After the winter, the stems of the individual species of sunchoke are cut back close to the ground. Woodrushes are well suited to the water garden and grow best near bodies of water, for example at the edge of a pond. Wood sedge also works well in a swamp bed. In the natural garden, the various species can be used to grow wild. Rushes prefer moist to wet substrates. In the wild, they colonize partially flooded areas along bodies of water, in bogs, wet meadows and swamps, but they can usually also tolerate longer dry periods. Their hollow stems make them highly tolerant of waterlogging, as they supply the root system with the oxygen it needs. Depending on their growth height, rushes can tolerate a water level of between five and ten centimetres in the garden pond. Most Juncus species feel particularly at home in sunny or semi-shady spots. The pH value of the soil should be in the acidic range; they do not do so well in calcareous soil. A good planting time for the marsh plants is from spring to fall. To keep the proliferation of rampant rushes in the water garden to a minimum, they should be planted in special containers or mesh baskets. When planting rushes, make sure there is sufficient space between them and their neighbors - 20 to 30 centimetres is usually recommended. Pebbles can be used to weigh down the baskets and the substrate. Rushes are robust and can be cut back easily. However, this is only necessary after cold winters when the foliage has died back. In mild temperatures, the foliage remains green. In general, rushes are quite long-lived and do not need to be divided regularly. Overgrown clumps can simply be cut into sections with a sharp spade and replanted. The best time for this is spring. If you are growing rushes in a pot, you should keep the substrate constantly moist and feed the plants with liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks during the growing season. Repotting in spring is well tolerated. Planted rushes are well tolerated by frost and generally do not require winter protection in our latitudes. However, Juncus species in smaller pots should be moved to a frost-free, bright winter habitat to be on the safe side.