Spiny Rush
Juncus acutus
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Ascension, Baleares, Bermuda, Brazil, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chile, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Juan Fernández Is., Kriti, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Madeira, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, South Africa, Spain, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, United States, Uruguay, Western Sahara
Nikolaus Thomas Host
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juncaceae
- Genus:
- Juncus
- Species:
- Juncus acutus
- USDA Symbol:
- JUAC2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- brown
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire. Common in coastal marshes subject to periodic burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, saline, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in coastal and saline environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light exposure and moist conditions. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Source: Claude AI