Swordleaf Rush
Juncus ensifolius
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Canada, Japan, Kuril Is., Mexico, United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Juncaceae
- Genus:
- Juncus
- Species:
- Juncus ensifolius
- USDA Symbol:
- JUEN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- brown, green
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, waterfowl
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; common in wet meadows with periodic burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich, loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wet meadows and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and consistently moist conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Mix seeds with sand and sow directly into target containers with a growing medium of 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice and Nutricote controlled release fertilizer at the rate of 0.5 gram per 107 ml container. Seal racks inside plastic bags and refrigerate at 1 to 3 °C for 30 days. Alternatively, seeds can be stored in cool-dry conditions with temperatures of approximately 50°F and relative humidity of 20 to 30%.
Establishment: Juncus ensifolius grows in wet, sandy soils from Alaska to California and east throughout the Rocky Mountain ranges. They are found in USDA zones 4b - 8 at elevations from 400 – 3,000’. Commonly found growing in marshes, wetlands, stream banks and wet meadows at low to fairly high elevations. Not commonly found in standing water. Seed collection timing is critical as seed shatters readily.
Source: npn.rngr.net