Juncus effusus - Soft Rush

Family:	Juncaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Width:	0.5
Synonyms:	J. communis effusus.
Range:	Throughout the northern temperate zone, including Britain, east and south Africa, Australasia.

Juncus effusus (Soft Rush) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m and a width of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 4.
Soft Rush will flower in December to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Soft Rush will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
Soft Rush prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Soft Rush can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Wet pastures, bogs, damp woods etc, usually on acid soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Suits a meadow
• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a moist soil, bog garden or shallow water[1, 200]. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young shoots - raw[118, 257]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The pith of the stem is antiphlogistic, depurative, discutient, diuretic, febrifuge, lenitive, lithontripic, pectoral and sedative[147, 176, 178, 218, 240]. It is used in the treatment of sore throats, jaundice, oedema, acute urinary tract infection and morbid crying of babies[176].

• Antiphlogistic - Reduces inflammation.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Lenitive - Soothing, palliative.
• Lithontripic - Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.
• Pectoral - Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in pots in a cold frame in early spring and keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently, otherwise in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

Possibly toxic to mammals[76].

Other Uses

Stems are used in basket making, thatching, weaving mats etc[23, 46, 66, 99, 115, 171]. The stems can also be dried then twisted or braided into ropes for tying or binding[257]. Stems can be peeled (except for a small spine which is left to keep them upright) and soaked in oil then used as a candle[6, 46, 61, 115]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper[189]. The stems are harvested in late summer or autumn, they are split and cut into usable pieces and then soaked for 24 hours in clear water. They are then cooked for 2 hours with lye and beaten in a blender. The fibres make an off-white paper[189]. When mixed with mulberry fibres they can be used for making stencil paper[189]. The whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[1, 66, 115].

• Basketry - Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.
• Lighting - Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.
• Paper - Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
• Strewing - Plants, usually aromatic, that are strewn on the floor to give a nice smell, repel insects etc.
• String - Plants that can be used as they are as a temporary string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre.
• Thatching - Used for making thatched roofs.
• Weaving - Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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