Digging deeperPlant Library

Javelin Rush

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Giant Rush

Description:

Grown for its stiff upright blue-green foliage, this tall variety is well suited to garden beds and mixed containers; can be grown as a pond plant but is also quite drought tolerant when grown in the garden

Ornamental Features

Javelin Rush is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. Its attractive grassy leaves emerge lime green in spring, turning bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Javelin Rush is a dense herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Javelin Rush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Javelin Rush will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Javelin Rush is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.