The Basket rush is the tallest species of Juncus in landscape use in the Inland Empire. It develops numerous dark green stems, growing 2-3 ft. high and spreads by underground rhizomes to form dense groupings as space permits. This species is endemic to California where it grows in wetlands, and like other native rushes, this species offers value for basketry, restoration projects, bioswales and for use in ornamental landscape designs in containers.
Basket rush
Juncus textilis
Description
Plant properties
Water needs
Maintenance
Plant Type: Grass, Rush, Native
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Spreading, Dense, Clumping
Growth Rate: Fast
Foliage Color: Dark green
Flower Color: Brown
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Moist soil
Exposure Adaptations: Morning sun, Moderate shade, Heat, Frost, All day sun
Function: Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Borders, Background plant, Wildlife value, Restoration, Residential spaces, Parks and open space, Near pools and water features, Mass planting
Height: 2 ft. – 3 ft.
Width: 5 ft. – 6 ft.
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Spreading, Dense, Clumping
Growth Rate: Fast
Foliage Color: Dark green
Flower Color: Brown
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Moist soil
Exposure Adaptations: Morning sun, Moderate shade, Heat, Frost, All day sun
Function: Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Borders, Background plant, Wildlife value, Restoration, Residential spaces, Parks and open space, Near pools and water features, Mass planting
Height: 2 ft. – 3 ft.
Width: 5 ft. – 6 ft.
Basket rush is a tough and durable plant for gardens in the Inland Empire with normal winter rainfall and moderate amounts of summer water. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several winter months marked by an asterisk (*) when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; higher amounts of water within this range will help this rush remain robust and with good foliage character.
Moderate Water Use Plants – Irrigation Schedule 4
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runs per Month | 0x to 3x | 0x to 3x | 0x to 3x | 2x to 3x | 2x to 3x | 3x to 4x | 3x to 4x | 3x to 4x | 2x to 3x | 2x to 3x | 0x to 3x | 0x to 3x |
Inches per Run | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ |
Inches per Month | 0″ to 3″ | 0″ to 3″ | 0″ to 3″ | 2″ to 3″ | 2″ to 3″ | 3″ to 4″ | 3″ to 4″ | 3″ to 4″ | 2″ to 3″ | 2″ to 3″ | 0″ to 3″ | 0″ to 3″ |
Range of supplemental summer water: 17"-24"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-15"
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
2″-3″ |
2″-3″ |
3″-4″ |
3″-4″ |
3″-4″ |
2″-3″ |
2″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
|
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
This low maintenance plant is often maintained incorrectly. Never cut back plants part way. Juncus is a form of rush that, while grass like, is not a grass. Plants cut back part way generally don’t look good. To maintain, as needed, prune out individual entire leaves to the ground if they have turned brown and look messy. If the entire plant looks like it needs refreshing, cut the entire plant all the way to the ground in the late winter to encourage vigorous new spring growth (D,S). Basket Rush spreads from its roots and naturally grows in large thickets. This is not a plant for small garden spaces. In most gardens, be prepared to dig out shoots that begin to grow “out of bounds” to control growth (S).
References
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