Rushes are semi-aquatic marginal pond plants, growing in moist or partially submerged conditions. Smaller bulrush plants such as Bulrush Typha Mimima, or dwarf reed mace, have a slower growing rate and are perfect for smaller ponds or aquatic tubs. Some of the larger and more invasive varieties such as Typha Latifolia bulrush can be grown in planting baskets, and Soft Rush or Spiral Rush are cultivated as ornamental grasses and are ideal for smaller ponds, raised bed gardens or potted patio planting.
Nestled amongst wildlife meadows and resident ducks, Caroline’s award winning pond plant nursery in Enfield has been making a splash since 1965, when they invented the (recycled, obvs) aquatic basket. Sixty years and multiple RHS gold medals later, they’re still surprising us with new varieties every year!
Need help picking?
Which rush?
Rushes (Juncus spp.) and Bulrushes (Typha spp.) are ‘grasses’ (though not true grasses) that suit a wide range of pond gardens, and with roughly 330 species between the two genera, there are certainly plenty to choose from! For pure visual impact, it’s hard to look past the corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus f. spiralis), whose twisting leaves draw the eye wherever they’re found. For vertical structural impact, we’d recommend the common bulrush (Typha latifolia), which can easily reach two metres in height. Don’t worry if you have a smaller pond and still want the sausage-shaped flower spikes of the bulrush, however, because there are also more compact varieties available, such as the miniature bulrush (Typha minima).
Rush companion plants
Rushes and bulrushes look great planted alongside other pond grasses, like sedges and sweet flags, as well as floating plants such as water lilies and water hawthorns. For marginal blooms at the pond’s edge, you can go for water irises, water forget-me-nots and marsh marigolds. If you’re growing rushes/bulrushes in a bog garden, rather than the margins of a pond, you can plant them alongside other foliage plants that don’t mind consistently moist soil, like hostas and ferns.
Caring for rush plants
Both rushes and bulrushes are nice and easy to look after. They’re fully hardy, easily withstanding temperatures down to -20°C. They prefer full sun, though Juncus spp. can also tolerate a bit of shade. To flourish, these plants need to be grown in permanently moist soil, while growing them in aquatic baskets can help prevent them from spreading too much and also helps keep them stable – this is particularly important for taller plants. If you notice your plants are getting a bit out of control, you can give them a spring prune to get them back in check.
