Jointleaf Rush

Juncus articulatus

Native to:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Is., China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Juncaceae
Genus:
Juncus
Species:
Juncus articulatus
USDA Symbol:
JUAR4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
80 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
brown, green

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Jutta Arctic (Oeneis jutta)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
waterfowl, shorebirds, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, nutrient-rich, clay or loam
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
often found in wetlands and marshes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and keep consistently moist.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold stratification for 150 days, or 'None required'

Establishment: Seeds are field collected from marshes around Parsnip Lake. The climate in the Rogue Valley during the growing period (June to September) is very dry and clear. Average daily high in the summer averages 86°F with occasional highs of over 105°F. Summer humidity is usually below 30%.

Source: npn.rngr.net