Juncus effusus 'Spiralis' (Spiralis Corkscrew Rush)

A superb plant with very curious twisted, spiraling foliage, well suited to aquatic containers and boggy, poorly drained areas; best used in the foreground or in a container.

Spiralis Corkscrew Rush is an open herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Spiralis Corkscrew Rush is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It  features subtle bracted brown frilly flowers at the ends of the stems from early summer to early fall. Its attractive twisted grassy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season.

Spiralis Corkscrew Rush will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

Spiralis Corkscrew Rush is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.