Elk Blue California Gray Rush
Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-10b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen
Height or Length at Maturity: 24-30″
Width at Maturity: 18-24″
Spacing: 18″ apart for mass plantings, 42″+ apart for space between plants
Spacing: 18″ apart for mass plantings, 42″+ apart for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright Clump
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Flower Color: Golden-Brown
Flower Type: Cluster
Flower Size: 1/2″
Flowering Period: Spring to Fall
Flowering Period: Spring to Fall
Fragrant Flowers: na
Foliage Color: Gray-Blue
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Shade
Water Needs: Average to Low; drought tolerant when established
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silt
Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry or Wet, even in 4 inches of standing water
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5
Maintenance / Care: Very Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, humidity, Insect, Wet Soil, 4″ of Standing Water
Description
An extremely handsome and highly adaptable and versatile North American native grass-like perennial plant, Elk Blue California Gray Rush was named after the town it was discovered in: Elk, on the southwest coast of Mendocino, CA. It will thrive in sun or shade and dry or wet soil, even submerged to a depth of 4 inches beneath the water surface in a garden pond. Excellent as a vertical accent in the landscape or containers, Elk Blue features a dense, grass-like, upright clump 24 to 30 inches tall of narrow, rounded, leafless stems in a most attractive shade of gray-blue. From spring to fall it displays small golden-brown flowers that emerge about 2/3 of the way up the plant. This is one we use all over the place; in a pot in the garden pond, in the rock garden, and also use it as a textural vertical centerpiece in combination container gardens. Deer leave it alone in our gardens.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in an upright clump 24 to 30 tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, Elk Blue California Gray Rush is ideal for use as an accent or in groupings or as a hedge in landscape borders, garden beds and home foundation plantings. It is excellent for use as a centerpiece in combination container gardens. Can also be grown as a solo in containers that can be submerged up to 4 inches below the waters surface. A fine addition to ornamental grass gardens, bog gardens, rock gardens, container gardens, and blue color theme gardens.
Growing Preferences
Elk Blue California Gray Rush is easy to grow in most any wet to dry soil of average fertility in full sun or shade. Can be grown in standing water up to 4 inches deep so is suitable for use in the garden pond or bog gardens. Maintenance is minimal. If necessary, the foliage can be refreshed annually by snipping out dead or broken stems or cutting the plant back to an inch or so above the ground in late winter to early spring, before new growth begins to emerge.
Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop computer monitors or below on mobile devices.
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