Also known as Leopold’s rush, spike rush, sharp-leaved rush, and sharp rush, this evergreen, herbaceous grass-like perennial is native to western US, South America, north and south Africa, western and southern Europe and west Asia where it grows in in many habitats including coastal areas such as salt marshes and dunes, and in inland areas, such as alkaline seeps and damp meadows. It is a member of the rush family, Juncaceae, a monocot family that resembles grasses and sedges. The plant grows up to 5′ tall from a short rhizome and forms a clump of long stiff spreading basal leaves that have sharp terminal spines and form a basal sheath around the flowering stems. From early to late summer, stiff unbranched flowering stems up to 5″ long carry clusters of 1-6 flowers. The flowering stems appear to be tipped with a spine that is actually a bract that sheaths itself around the stem just below the flowers. The fruit is a spherical brown capsule up to .24″ across and contains numerous brown seeds with tails at each end. Spiny rush tolerant of salt and alkaline conditions but is not usually used in gardens because of its spiny nature and habitat requirements. It could, however, be used in bog or pond gardens. The genus name, Juncus, may come from the Latin word jungere, meaning to bind, referring to the use of the plant in basketry. The specific epithet, acutus, is the Latin word meaning sharp or pointed and refers to the spines on the tips of the leaves and flowering stems.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous grass-like perennial
Bloom: Clusters of small inconspicuous flowers from early to late summer
Size: 5′ H x 5′ W
Light: Full sun to light shade
Soil: Almost any moist to wet soil; tolerates saline and alkaline conditions
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance (unverified)
Propagation: Seed
Companion Plants: Saltbush (Atriplex sp.), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), beaked Spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata)
Outstanding Selections: None available
Photo Credit: Ruppia Wikimedia Commons